The 28th of May, 2023 is this year’s celebration day for Pentecost Sunday. The Bible scriptures for the vigil holy mass readings for this day came from the Year 2023 of Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: GN 11:1-9 or EX 19:3-8A, 16-20B or EZ 37:1-14 or JL 2:28-32
The first reading from the Book of Genesis.
The whole earth was of one language and of one speech.
As they traveled east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they lived there.
They said to one another, “Come, let’s make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.
They said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top reaches to the sky, and let’s make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad on the surface of the whole earth.”
Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built.
Yahweh said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be with held from them, which they intend to do.
Come, let’s go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
So Yahweh scattered them abroad from there on the surface of all the earth. They stopped building the city.
Therefore its name was called Babel, because there Yahweh confused the language of all the earth. From there, Yahweh scattered them abroad on the surface of all the earth.
or first reading from the Book of Exodus.
Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him out of the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself.
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Yahweh commanded him.
All the people answered together, and said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do.”
On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.
Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain.
All of Mount Sinai smoked, because Yahweh descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.
Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain.
or first reading from the Book of Ezekiel.
Yahweh’s hand was on me, and he brought me out in Yahweh’s Spirit, and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.
He caused me to pass by the mall around; and behold, there were very many in the open valley, and behold, they were very dry.
He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I answered, “Lord Yahweh, you know.”
Again he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and tell them, ‘You dry bones, hear Yahweh’s word.
The Lord Yahweh says to these bones: “Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you will live.
I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”_’_”
So I prophesied as I was commanded. As I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, there was an earthquake. Then the bones came together, bone to its bone.
I saw, and, behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”_’_”
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost. We are completely cut off.’
Therefore prophesy, and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.
You will know that I am Yahweh, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, my people.
I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it and performed it,” says Yahweh.’_”
or first reading from the Book of Joel.
“It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.
And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit.
I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, fire, and pillars of smoke.
The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes.
It will happen that whoever will call on Yahweh’s name shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as Yahweh has said, and among the remnant, those whom Yahweh calls.”
Responsorial Psalm: PS 104:1-2, 24 and 35, 27-28, 29 and 30
Response: You send out your Spirit and they are created. You renew the face of the ground.
Bless Yahweh, my soul. Yahweh, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty.
He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.
R: You send out your Spirit and they are created. You renew the face of the ground.
Yahweh, how many are your works! In wisdom, you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches.
Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless Yahweh, my soul. Praise Yah!
R: You send out your Spirit and they are created. You renew the face of the ground.
These all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season.
You give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good.
R: You send out your Spirit and they are created. You renew the face of the ground.
You hide your face; they are troubled. You take away their breath; they die and return to the dust.
You send out your Spirit and they are created. You renew the face of the ground.
R: You send out your Spirit and they are created. You renew the face of the ground.
Reading 2: ROM 8:22-27
The second reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.
For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees?
But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.
In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered.
He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.
Gospel of the Day: JN 7:37-39
From the gospel verse according to John.
Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!
He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.”
But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.
Other Pentecost Sunday Reading
You can also check out the Pentecost Sunday – Mass During the Day reading.
