Pentecost Sunday – Year A (2026)
Sunday, May 24, 2026
God the Father is the almighty Creator, who eternally begets the Son and makes us His children. Jesus Christ is the only-begotten Son of the Father, true God and true Man, consubstantial (of the same substance and of one being) with the Father, who came for our salvation. Scripture and centuries of Christian art embed images of God the Father and of Jesus in our minds. But what about the Holy Spirit? Do you imagine the Spirit as the dove that appeared at Jesus’ baptism? As tongues of fire, or a strong driving wind, that the apostles experienced at Pentecost in today’s liturgy? We know the Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. Who is this Holy Spirit, and more importantly, who is He to us? As the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Pentecost, we may be tempted to think that we honor the Holy Spirit once a year on this day. Pentecost is not ancient history; it is the ongoing outpouring of the living Holy Spirit on the Church, renewing hearts, uniting believers, and sending them into mission.
The Holy Spirit is not merely a force nor a feeling that comes and goes. “The Holy Spirit is at work with the Father and the Son from the beginning to the completion of the plan for our salvation. But in these “end times,” ushered in by the Son’s redeeming Incarnation, the Spirit is revealed and given, recognized and welcomed as a person.” — Catechism §686. The Church teaches that He is a divine Person, true God, who works with the Father and the Son from the beginning to the completion of the plan of salvation and who is given to believers as both a gift and a Helper. Scripture gives us a vocabulary for understanding the Spirit’s work. Jesus calls the Spirit “Paraclete,” literally “he who is called to one’s side,” translated commonly as “consoler” or “advocate.” The Holy Spirit is the Church’s teacher of faith. “One cannot believe in Jesus Christ without sharing in his Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals to men who Jesus is. For “no one can say “Jesus is Lord”, except by the Holy Spirit”, who “searches everything, even the depths of God.” No one comprehends the thoughts of God, except the Spirit of God.” Only God knows God completely: we believe in the Holy Spirit because he is God.” — Catechism §152.
In 1 Corinthians 12, St. Paul speaks of different kinds of spiritual gifts given to each individual in the Church for the common good. We should not think of these gifts as just for us individually. They are distributed by the Spirit for the building up of the Church; the Spirit who distributes the gifts is the same Spirit who binds the Church together. Ponder today: What is the gift given to me, and what am I doing with it for the common good?
Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, by the light of the Holy Spirit, you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit, help us to know what is truly right and always rejoice in his consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.