Date: May 14, 2016 and May 15, 2016
Readings for Pentecost Vigil
First Reading (Genesis 11: 1–9)
A reading from the book of Genesis.
The whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved from east, they found a plain in the country of Shinar where they settled. They stated to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and bake them in fire." They used brick for stone and bitumen for mortar. They stated also, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top reaching heaven; so that we may become a great people and not be scattered over the face of the earth!" The Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of man were building, and the Lord stated, "They are one people and they have one language. If they carry this through, nothing they decide to do from now on will be impossible. Come! Let us go down and confuse their language so that they will no longer understand each other." So the Lord scattered them over all the earth and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth and from there the Lord scattered them over the whole face of the earth.
Second Reading (Exodus 19: 3–8, 16–20)
A reading from the book of Exodus.
The Israelites camped there in front of the mountain, but Moses went up to God and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, "This is what you are to say and to explain to the Israelites: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself. Now if you listen to me and keep my covenant, you shall be my very own possession among all the nations. For all the earth is mine, but you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." And he added, "This is what you are to say to the people of Israel." So Moses went and summoned all the elders of the people and related to them all that the Lord had commanded him to say. All the people responded with one voice, "All that the Lord has said, we will do." Moses then brought back to the Lord the people's response. On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning and a dense cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast was heard. All the people in the camp trembled. Moses then made the people leave the camp to meet God and stand at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was completely covered in smoke because the Lord had come down in fire, and the smoke rose as from a furnace. The whole mountain shook violently, while the blast of the of the trumpet became louder and louder. Moses spoke and God replied in thunder. When the Lord had come down to the summit of Mount Sinai, God called Moses, who went to the summit.
Third Reading (Ezekiel 37: 1–14)
A reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel.
The hand of the Lord was upon me. He brought me out and led me in spirit to the middle of the valley which was full of bones. He made me walk to and fro among them and I could see there was a great number of them on the ground all along the valley and that they were very dry. The Lord stated to me, "Son of man, can these bones live again?" I stated, "Lord God, only you know that." He then stated, "Speak on my behalf concerning these bones; say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! The Lord says: I am going to put spirit in you and make you live. I shall put sinews on you and make flesh grow on you; I shall cover you with skin and give you my spirit, that you may live. And you will know that I am the Lord." I prophesied as I had been commanded and then there was a noise and commotion; the bones joined together. I looked and saw that they had sinews, that flesh was growing on them and that he was covering them with skin. But there was no spirit in them. So the Lord stated to me, "Speak on my behalf and call on the Spirit, son of man! Say to the Spirit: This is the word of the Lord: Spirit, come from the four winds. Breathe into these dead bones and let them live!" I prophesied as he had commanded me and breath entered them; they came alive, standing on their feet — a great, immense army! He then stated to me, "Son of man, these bones are all Israel. They keep saying: 'Our bones are dry, hope has gone, it is the end of us.' So prophesy! Say to them: This is what the Lord says: I am going to open your tombs, I shall bring you out of your tombs, my people, and lead you back to the land of Israel. You will know that I am the Lord, O my people! When I open your graves and bring you out of your graves, when I put my spirit in you and you live. I shall settle you in your land and you will know that I, the Lord, have done what I said I would do."
Fourth Reading (Joel 3: 1–5)
A reading from the book of the prophet Joel.
In the last days, I will pour out my Spirit on every mortal. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even upon my servants and maidens, I will pour out my Spirit on that day. I will show wonders in the heavens, and on earth blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun will darken and the moon turn to blood at the approach of the great and dreadful day of God. Then all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. For on Mount Zion there will be a remnant, as the Lord has stated; in Jerusalem some will be saved — those whom the Lord will call.
Epistle (Romans 8: 22–27)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.
We know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pangs of birth. Not creation alone, but even ourselves, although the Spirit was given to us as a foretaste of what we are to receive, we groan in our innermost being, eagerly awaiting the day when God will give us full rights and rescue our bodies as well. To hope is the way we are saved. But if we saw what we hoped for, there would be no longer be hope: how can you hope for what is already seen? So we hope for what we do not see and we will receive it through patient hope. We are weak, but the Spirit comes to help us. How to ask? And what shall we ask for? We do not know, but the spirit intercedes for us without words, as if with groans. And he who sees inner secrets knows the desires of the Spirit, for he asks for the holy ones what is pleasing to God.
Gospel (John 7: 37–39)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, "Let anyone who is thirsty, come to me; and let the one who believes in me drink, for the Scripture states: Out of him shall flow rivers of living water." Jesus was referring to the Spirit which those who believe in him were to receive; the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet entered into his Glory.
Readings for Solemnity of the Pentecost (Pentecost Sunday)
First Reading (Acts 2: 1–11)
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
When the day of Pentecost came, the apostles were all together in one place. And suddenly out of the sky came a sound like a strong rushing wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared tongues as if of fire which parted and came to rest upon each one of them. All were filled with Holy Spirit and began to speak other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak. Staying in Jerusalem were religious Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered, all excited because each heard them speaking in his own language. Full of amazement and wonder, they asked, "Are not all those who are speaking Galileans? How is it that we hear them in our own native language? Here are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libra belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and foreigners who accept Jewish beliefs, Cretians and Arabians; and all of us hear them proclaiming in our own language what God, the Savior, does."
Second Reading (1 Corinthians 12: 3b–7 and 12–13) (Option 1)
A reading from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers and sisters: Nobody can say, "Jesus is the Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. There is diversity of gifts, but the Spirit is the same. There is diversity of ministries, but the Lord is the same. There is diversity of works, but the same God works in all. The Spirit reveals his presence in each one with a gift which is also a service. As the body is one, having many members, and all the members, while being many, form one body, so it is with Christ. All of us, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, have been baptized in one Spirit to form one body and all of us have been given to drink from the one Spirit.
Second Reading (Romans 8: 8–17) (Option 2)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.
So, those walking according to the flesh cannot please God. Yet your existence is not in the flesh, but in the spirit, because the Spirit of God is within you. If you did not have the Spirit of Christ, you would not belong to him. But Christ is within you; though the body is branded by death as a consequence of sin, the spirit is life and holiness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies. Yes, he will do it through his Spirit who dwells within you. Then, brothers, let us leave the flesh and no longer live according to it. If not, we will die. Rather, walking in the Spirit, let us put to death the body's deeds so that we may live. All those who walk in the Spirit of God are sons and daughters of God. Then, no more fear: you did not receive a spirit of slavery, but the Spirit that makes you sons and daughters and every time we cry, "Abba! (this is Dad!) Father!" the Spirit assures our spirit that we are sons and daughters of God. If we are children, we are heirs, too. Ours will be the inheritance of God and we will share it with Christ; for if we now suffer with him, we will also share Glory with him.
Gospel (John 20: 19–23) (Option 1)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
On the evening of that day, the first day after the sabbath, the doors were locked where the disciples were, because of their fear of the Jews, but Jesus came and stood in their midst. He stated to them, "Peace be with you"; then he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples kept looking at the Lord and were full of joy. Again Jesus stated to them, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." After stating this he breathed on them and stated to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit; for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained."
Gospel (John 14: 15–16 and 23b–26) (Option 2)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
Jesus stated to his disciples: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments; and I will ask the Father and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever, and we will come to him and make a room in his home. But if anyone does not love me, he will not keep my words, and these words that you hear are not mine but the Father's who sent me. I told you all this while I was still with you. From now on the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of all that I have told you."