Readings and Themes for the Week of May 23, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of May 23, 2010,
Solemnity of Pentecost

Reading Acts 2:1-11

As on Sinai, the Lord descends in fire and wind.

Psalm 104

"Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth."

Reading II 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13

The Spirit calls the baptized to ministry for the common good.

OR Romans 8:8-18

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Gospel: John 20:19-23

On the first day of the week, the risen Christ imparts the Holy Spirit.

OR: John 14:15-16,23b-26

The Holy Spirit will teach you everything.

THEME:

God's breath, the Holy Spirit, gives us true life and peace.

Throughout the history of salvation, God’s spirit has breathed upon all creation, bringing life and renewal. Today we remember those events and pray for an ever more generous outpouring of that same Spirit. Let this holy place resound with the prayer of our responsorial psalm, “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth”.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

Jesus tells us that we need to forgive to have peace.

What is one way that you can forgive a friend or classmate?

Question for Youth:

St. Paul tells that we all have unique gifts for the good of others.

What is special about you?

How can you use those gifts to help others --- family, friends, and strangers?

Question for Adults:

Even as working disciples of Christ, we are given the gift of peace.

How do you experience this gift and how do you share it with others?

Forming Good Stewards

"To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit."

It has been seven weeks and one day since Easter Sunday. It is Pentecost [from the Greek word for “fiftieth”], the day on which the Holy Spirit encourages the Apostles to proclaim Jesus Christ to people from many nations, cultures, languages and religious beliefs. Each person heard the Apostles in their own tongue. Amazing! Even more amazing is that people with a variety of religious beliefs came to believe in Jesus. Later Paul writes to Christians in Corinth, a seaport city with people from many nations, cultures, languages, and religious beliefs. He tells them something so obvious we often forget it: Each of us is a person with a unique array of talents, abilities, and gifts that God has given to us to use for ourselves and for others. Material wealth, intelligence, artistic talent, athletic ability, the gift of music, and many others—God intends for us to enjoy them ourselves and to share them with others. How are we doing with that? One day God will ask.