The first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. On Pentecost (meaning fifty days after the feast of the Resurrection of Jesus by Christians), when the Spirit fills the disciples, it gives them new languages to preach about Jesus. This is the official birthdate of the Church. For this reason, today the entire Church celebrates the great Feast of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the pouring out of His graces and benefits on all the baptized. The Church will be universal in scope. People of every nation will be invited to join this new People of God.

In the Ascension of the Lord, the First Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. Saint Luke describes the last forty days of the Risen Christ on earth, teaching and preparing the apostles for His departure. Jesus instructed the Apostles to remain in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit, the source of power. Then Jesus was lifted up in the sky and was covered by a cloud covered: The disciples received the angelic message that the ascended Jesus would come back again in glory “in the same way as you have seen Him going into Heaven.” Jesus’ Ascension marks the end of his journey on earth and signals the beginning of a new era.  It is through the Holy Spirit that God's Plan of Salvation will continue until the end of time. And the mission of the Church also begins under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

On this sixth Sunday of Easter, the First Reading comes from the Acts of the Apostles. After the martyrdom of Stephen, a severe persecution broke out, and all the followers of Jesus except the Apostles scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. God uses this terrible event to bring the Good News to the people of Samaria, a people despised by Jews. These verses focus on the evangelization ministry of Philip, one of the first Seven Deacons: “Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.”