Sunday
Gospel and Question
of the Week
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PENTECOST SUNDAY
Gospel:
John 20: 19-23
On the evening of that first day of
the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I
send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose
sins you retain are retained.”
or
John 14:15-16, 23b-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and
he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.
“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will
come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.
“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach
you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”
Question of the week
When have you experienced the Holy Spirit's help in keeping Jesus' word?
Discussion
Peace and forgiveness are gifts from Jesus in the Holy Spirit. Do you need to be
a more peaceful and forgiving person?
Forgiveness is not "forgiving and forgetting." It does not deny that a
wrong or a hurt took place. When we hurt someone, the bridge between us falls
down. Our bond with that person is broken. When we forgive someone, or are
forgiven, we allow the Holy Spirit to rebuild the bridge between us, even
stronger than before. Because we are limited and human, we may not feel this all
at once. But forgiveness is part of God's love. When we forgive, we bring God's
love into our lives and into the lives of those who have hurt us. We can cross
the bridge to meet again. We may still remember being hurt, but we can recall it
with thanksgiving. We can thank God for the new and stronger bridge. Are there
any broken bridges in your life? What might be a first step to the Spirit's gift
of rebuilding and repair? How could you ask the Holy Spirit for help?
Gospel Reflection
Once
again we are reliving Easter night with Jesus and the disciples. He breathes on
them, communicating the gift of the Holy Spirit. They gladly receive Jesus'
Spirit and his ministry of forgiving sins. At Pentecost the Spirit will send
them forth as living signs that Jesus has overcome sin and death.
Reflection
and Questions are adapted and reprinted with
permission from Harcourt Religion Publishers, www.Harcourtreligion.com
, RCL-Benziger: www.rclweb.com
and http://www.blestarewe.com/misc/terms.html
and
William F. Sadlier: www.webelieveweb.com
Visit these web sites for
additional information and formation resources for adults and children.
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Scripture references for the week: Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
The calendar of the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops links to the daily readings.
Click here for the readings. Right click back to return to this page
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