TUESDAY, APRIL 14
DAY 27 - PENTECOST
After Jesus rises from the dead, He appears to the Apostles and His closest friends, teaching and encouraging them over the next 40 days. Then, bringing them out of Jerusalem, He ascends into Heaven, opening the gates to all humanity and beginning His reign as King. Before He departs, He commands the Apostles to remain in Jerusalem for 10 more days, as He plans to send the Holy Spirit upon them to aid them in their evangelizing and pursuit of becoming holy. This will all take place in an extraordinary way on a day we call Pentecost.
From Our Spiritual Director ✝
Tuesday Reflection
Readings
Acts 2:36-41Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 & 22Jn 20:11-18Today the disciples of Jesus recount how they recognized the risen Christ in the breaking of the bread and that “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” As this is recalled Jesus appears to them and says, “Peace be with you.” The disciples were terrified. How can this be they ask? Each person must have wondered if the others were seeing what they were seeing. They were so skeptical that Jesus finally says look at me, touch me, recall that a ghost does not have bone and flesh as I have.
Once they recognize Jesus, they are amazed and overjoyed. The loss of Jesus in their midst had been terribly difficult. Not only did they wonder if they believed in someone who was not true, but that if it had been true Jesus was now not present to them.
As we continue through our Easter journey, we recognize that we seem to have lost Jesus in the ability to receive him in the Eucharist. We must remember that Spiritual Communion, our desire to be with Jesus at this most sacred time of the year unites us to Christs saving power for us!
His resurrection is our resurrection! We will see him face to face in the Heavenly Kingdom!
Blessings,
Fr. John
Weekly Challenge 🙌
Our new contest this week is "Acting Out!" Just for fun, we're challenging our families to an acting contest. Choose a story from the bible (or elsewhere), create costumes, props, a set, a script, or anything else you like to make your story pop. Then act it out! Record the production and share it with us! Use this form to submit videos and/or photos of your production. Winner will be announced Friday, April 17th. Check out Steve and family's demonstration!
Elementary (Grades 1-4)
Pray
Find all the prayers here.Mealtime Prayers & Night Time Prayers
5 mins - Praying for Others
Learn
Watch the video
The Main Points to Teach Your Child:
What happens on Pentecost
The Apostles and Mary receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit
Peter preaches for the first time and 3,000 people are baptized that day
The Apostles begin their mission of preaching the Gospel to all the nations, to the ends of the earth
Why Pentecost is also considered the Birthday of the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church is born on Pentecost, the Apostles bring the message
Baptizing all nations and preaching the Gospel
This if the fulfillment God's promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3)
The Apostles are sent from their land to all the other nations to share the Gospel
God's kingdom grows throughout the world
The Apostles baptize and bless those who hear and believe, adding to their numbers
A Note from Julie:
Dear Parents,
When I think of Pentecost, I think of a day very much like yesterday, with the great rush of winds shaking windows and rattling doors. I can only imagine how the Apostles must have felt, alone in the upper room, still frightened and unsure of what was to happen next. Just 50 days earlier, Jesus was taken from them in the garden (Passion), He returns to them from the dead (Resurrection) only to leave again to be with God the Father in Heaven (Ascension). And although He promised the Father would send the Helper (aka Holy Spirit) to be with them always, they didn't really know what that meant. But they remained faithful. When the Holy Spirit descended upon them in the upper room as rushes of wind and flames of fire, they were eager to accept the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Their faith was strengthened, confidence found, and courage renewed.
I pray that we, like the Apostles, may always be eager to accept the Holy Spirit into our lives. And, as you review these lessons and share the awesome stories of our faith with your children, may your faith be strengthened with renewed confidence and courage.
God bless,
-Julie Sheridan
Additional Resources & Activities to do at Home
Video:
Resources
Middle School (Grades 5-8)
Pray
Find all the prayers here.Basic Prayers
Ten Minutes of Silence
Intercessions
Thanksgiving
Reading the Bible
Learn
Watch the video
The Main Points that need to be learned or taught from this lesson
Be able to explain the basic narrative for Pentecost.
Understand how the Catholic Church is born and spread throughout the known world from this point.
Be able to articulate how Jesus fulfills all the promises that God gives to Abraham in Genesis 12.
Adults
Pray
Basic Prayers
- A list of all these prayers are here.
For those new to prayer
First 10 mins - Talk to God
Second 10 mins - Listen to God
Praying with the Bible or the daily mass readings.
For those more experienced in prayer
20 Mins of Silent Meditation – Suggestions:
Lectio Divina/Meditating on the Bible
Petition, Intercession, Thanksgiving, & Praise
Journaling
Reflecting on the Daily Readings
Learn
Watch the video
Learn
Watch the faith formation resource video below to learn more about your faith.
"And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. "
- Acts 2:2-3