First Reading

First reading

Reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Acts 2, 1-11

On the day of Pentecost, all the disciples were gathered in one place. Suddenly a loud noise came from heaven, like a strong wind blowing, and it resounded throughout the house where they were. Then tongues of fire appeared, which separated and came to rest on each of them; they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to express themselves.

At that time there were devout Jews in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven. When they heard the sound, a crowd gathered, bewildered because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

Amazed and astonished, they asked: «Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Among us are Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene; also visitors from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages of the mighty acts of God.»

Second reading

Reading from the first letter of the Apostle Saint Paul to the Corinthians

1 Corinthians 12, 3b-7. 12-13

Brothers and sisters: No one can say, «Jesus is Lord,» except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.

As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint John

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.»