Pentecost Sunday

Sunday is the day we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost, as promised by Our Lord Jesus to the disciples.  A friend of my reminded us on his blog that this is the last chance to fulfill your Easter obligation.  If you're one of those who can't seem to make it every Sunday to Mass (a faithful Catholic is obligated to go every Sunday, btw), you must attend Mass and Confession at the very least, once a year at Eastertide.  Sunday is the last day of the Easter celebration season.   So, if you have not done so, please get yourself to confession and Mass this weekend.

Sunday's Gospel reading:

Gospel  Jn 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.”

What a beautiful message, and what a beautiful gift Jesus Christ gave the Church, not only the Holy Spirit, the best thing He gave us, but also the power to forgive our sins in His Name.  To hear "Your sins are forgiven" outloud by one sitting in the place of Christ, can be very liberating. 

For you moms out there that try to keep wiggly ones occupied during Mass, I recommend the Catholicmom.com's Gospel activities for kids aged 7-14.
Go here:  http://new.catholicmom.com/2010/05/17/may-23-2010/#more-9888  I've used these for my younger ones.  

God Bless, see you at Mass.