Saints LightWhere Did Jesus Go, and Whom Did He Send?
Jesus went up to heaven, and then He sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to fill His friends with courage and love.
Forty days after Easter, Jesus led His friends up a hill. He told them to go and tell the whole world about Him, and He promised to send them a Helper. Then, as they watched, He was lifted up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. We call this the Ascension (CCC 659).
Jesus did not go far away and forget us. His risen body went into heaven, where He prepares a place for us and prays for us with the Father (CCC 665). And He promised: I am with you always.
Ten days later, on the feast of Pentecost, the Apostles were gathered together in Jerusalem, where they had been praying with Mary. Suddenly there was a sound like a rushing wind, and what looked like little flames of fire rested on each of them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit (CCC 731).
The Apostles had been hiding and afraid. Now they went outside and told everyone about Jesus, and people from many countries heard them in their own languages. About three thousand people were baptized that day! Pentecost is often called the birthday of the Church.
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, truly God. He is the Helper Jesus promised. Since your Baptism He lives in you, giving you courage, helping you pray and helping you love (CCC 683, 732). You can ask Him for help anytime: Come, Holy Spirit!
Key points
- Jesus ascended into heaven forty days after Easter.
- At Pentecost the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles.
- The Holy Spirit lives in us and helps us.
The Word of God
When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Catechism paragraphs for this lesson
- CCC 659
- CCC 665
- CCC 683
- CCC 731-732
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
Live it this week
Every morning this week, before school, pray: Come, Holy Spirit, help me today. At bedtime, tell a grown-up about one time the Spirit helped you be brave or kind.
Check yourself: three questions
1. What is the Ascension?
- When Jesus was born
- When Jesus went up to heaven
- When Jesus was baptized
- When Jesus walked on water
Show the answer
When Jesus went up to heaven. Forty days after Easter, Jesus was taken up into heaven before His friends' eyes.
2. What happened at Pentecost?
- Jesus was born
- Moses received the Ten Commandments
- The Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles
- Noah built the ark
Show the answer
The Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit came like wind and fire and filled the Apostles.
3. Who is the Holy Spirit?
- God, the third Person of the Trinity
- A kind of angel
- Just a good feeling
- A saint from long ago
Show the answer
God, the third Person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is truly God, with the Father and the Son.
For catechists: a one hour class plan
Goal. The children will know that Jesus ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and will begin asking the Holy Spirit for help each day.
Opener. Ask: "Have you ever had to do something brave, like a first day at a new school? What helped you?" Then: "Jesus sent a Helper for exactly those moments."
Discussion questions
- Did Jesus leave us alone when He went to heaven? [No. He promised to be with us always and sent the Holy Spirit.]
- What changed in the Apostles at Pentecost? [They went from scared and hiding to brave and joyful.]
- Can we see the Holy Spirit? [Not usually, but like the wind, we can see what He does: courage, kindness, peace.]
- When could you ask the Holy Spirit for help this week? [Tests, hard conversations, saying sorry, trying something new.]
Activity. Pentecost flames and wind: children cut red, orange and yellow paper flames and write on each one a gift they need from the Holy Spirit (courage, kindness, patience, joy). Glue the flames onto a paper headband. Then play the wind game: children blow cotton balls across a table with straws. We cannot see the wind, but we can see what it does, just like the Holy Spirit.
Closing prayer. Come, Holy Spirit, fill our hearts. Make us brave like the Apostles, kind like Jesus and joyful in everything we do. Thank You for living in us. Amen.
Timing. Welcome and Sign of the Cross 5 min, being brave opener 5 min, read the lesson aloud 10 min, discussion 10 min, flame headbands and wind game 15 min, memory verse 5 min, quiz together 5 min, closing prayer 5 min.
Related lessons
- I believe in the Holy Spirit (The Creed, free)
- He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty (The Creed, free)
- How Did the Church Begin? (Church History)
- The Holy Spirit and Grace (Start Here, free)
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