Intergenerational Pentecost - Modern Liturgy 5/98

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Intergenerational
Pentecost Plan

The season of Easter culminates with Pentecost. Celebrating the Lectionary provides an Intergenerational Liturgy of the Word plan to focus on our Spirit-filled moments. The following are excerpts from the liturgy plan.

Proclamation (Acts 2:1-11)

Set the scene for the assembly. Explain that Pentecost was first a Jewish harvest feast that came 50 days after the Passover. Tell them that many Jews from all over the Mediterranean came back to Jerusalem to celebrate this wonderful celebration of Thanksgiving.

Response (Ps 104)

Proclamation (1 Cor 12:4-7,12-13)

Proclamation (Jn 20:19-23)

Sample Homily

A grandfather took his five-year-old grandson to the top of a hill overlooking the ocean. They had purchased a kite that morning, put it together, and fashioned a tail out of pieces of a torn bed sheet. The boy ran a little ways and the kite took flight. He let out the string farther and farther. He shrieked with glee as the kite went farther and farther into the sky. The grandfather and grandson were delighted as the kite seemed to dance in the afternoon sunlight. About 20 minutes later the weather changed and dark clouds hovered over the ocean's shore. Suddenly the kite disappeared.
Grandpa said, "Oh, someone has come and stolen your kite!"
But the grandson replied, "Nope!"
Some time passed and the grandfather said, "The kite must have gotten off the string."
But again the grandson answered, "No, no!"
"Certainly a bird has come along and clipped the string and the kite has blown away."
"Grandpa, I am here holding the string and I can feel the kite tugging at the other end."
It is that way with the Holy Spirit. We can feel its gentle tugging at our heart strings. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come to his apostles. So, they waited, not knowing what to expect. When the first Pentecost came, the apostles experienced a presence that not only gave them a new courage and strength but also propelled them to witness to others in public without fear of the Jews. These were the very same men who ran away, abandoning Jesus in his hour of need, the same apostles who huddled in fear for their lives on Easter evening, uneducated men who could suddenly speak many languages as they proclaimed Jesus' good news. The Spirit had changed their lives forever. Nothing would ever be the same again. With a new sense of mission, the apostles were convinced that everyone in the world must know what they knew to be true. The Jesus who died lives on.
We may not think too much about the Holy Spirit in our lives. We cannot see the Spirit, but we can be sure that the Spirit is constantly tugging on our heart strings, nudging us.
Some may picture the Holy Spirit as a white dove, while others may find the wind or fire to be more powerful signs of the Spirit. We know that the Spirit is our gift at our baptism in exactly the same way that the Spirit was present to Jesus at his own baptism. That same Spirit remains with us at all times. Every time we are moved to pray, the Spirit is there.
Every time there is a phone call to someone who is alone and sad, the Spirit is there. Each time an act of love is performed, the Spirit is there. At times when we feel impatient but overcome the urge to tell off another, we are acting out of the direction of the Spirit.
When we are in need of answers, the Spirit is there to guide us in God's way. When forgiveness is extended to another, the Spirit is at work. When we feel drawn to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, we can be sure that the Spirit put that desire there.
Whenever we act in justice, the mission of Jesus is being accomplished through the Spirit.
The child who shares a toy or a lunch with another is acting out the true mission of the Spirit-filled Christian. When we speak of our faith to another, who could doubt the Spirit's promptings? In the Gospel we heard that Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon the apostles.
The Spirit is that intimate to each of us. The Spirit is the very breath of life in each of us.
(Share a personal story of a spirit-filled moment for you.)
I wonder if we are really aware of all the times the Spirit fills our moments? Have you ever been surprised by the Spirit? Those gentle tuggings at your heart strings are the urgings of the Spirit. Hold on tight and your life will be filled with adventure and wonder!
(Invite the family groups to share quietly in the pews using the following questions:)

What symbol of the Holy Spirit most appeals to you?
Relate a time when you felt moved by the Spirit.