Introduction
The word Pentecost comes from the Greek pentēkostē, meaning “fiftieth,” marking the fiftieth day after Easter. On this day, the Church celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the apostles’ mission to proclaim the gospel to all nations.
This moment marks the birth of the Church: The same apostles who once hid in fear were now emboldened by the Spirit to carry Christ’s message to the world.
But Pentecost is more than a historical event; it is the celebration of the New Covenant. Just as the Old Covenant was sealed at Mount Sinai with law and fire, the New Covenant is sealed at Pentecost with the Spirit and flame. God’s law is no longer written on stone, but inscribed on human hearts, uniting us as one body in Christ.
Pentecost is the fulfillment of Easter and the commissioning of the Church. It closes the Easter season and marks the beginning of our life in the Spirit.
Sunday Readings 