Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Pentecost Sunday: Year B - May 20, 2018.

Readings: Acts 2:1-11; Responsorial Psalm Ps 103:1-24,29-31,34;

 Galatians 5:16-25; John 15:26-27; 16:12-15.

Theme: Let the Fire of the Holy Spirit Come Down Again

Introduction

Friends in Christ, today is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost comes from the Greek Pentekoste which means fiftieth. It was the second of the 3 most important annual feasts in Jewish Calendar which occurred 7 weeks after the Passover and was primarily a feast of thanksgiving for harvest; first fruits of wheat crop were offered to God on that day. It later came to be associated with the giving of the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. All Jews at home and in the diaspora were expected to attend. Thus, there was no fitting day for the descent of the Holy Spirit than this. This dramatic event we hear in our first reading the Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11. This is the birthday of the Church.

It is a celebration of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Blessed Trinity. The word “Holy” means sacred, awesome and usually associated with God’s majesty. “Spirit” comes from the Hebrew word “ruah” which means breath, air or wind; it connotes the transcendent newness of him who is personally God’s breath, the divine spirit. What comes to mind is the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3:5-8). The two words “Holy” and “Spirit” are divine attributes common to the three divine persons namely, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “The Holy Spirit is the proper name of the one whom we adore and glorify with the Father and the Son.”

On this day, we celebrate the titles of the Holy Spirit. The titles of the Holy Spirit are: Paraclet or Consoler – John 14:16; Spirit of Truth – John 16:13; Spirit of Promise – Gal. 3:14; Eph. 1:13; Spirit of Adoption – Rom. 8:9 and Spirit of Glory – 1^st Pet. 4:14. The symbolism of fire which dropped on the heads of the apostles today designates the “…transforming energy of the Holy Spirit’s action. At contest at Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah’s prayer “arose like fire-burned like a torch” and brought fire down from heaven on the sacrifice. That is why the Holy Spirit which changes/transforms whatever it comes in contact with (Kings 18:38-39). The forerunner of Jesus, John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit and the power of Elijah. He prophesized: “...he will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 1:17;3:16). Incidentally, Jesus says: “I have come to bring fire to the earth and how I wish it were blazing already…” (Luke12:49).

Summary of Our Readings

The first reading (Acts 2:1-11) recounts the Pentecost event. He discloses how Christ’s Passover was fulfilled with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in forms of tongues of ‘fire’ which strengthened and empowered the disciples for the Great Commission of Evangelisation. According to St. John of the Cross, “the symbolism of fire is retained in the Church as one of the most expressive images of the Holy Spirit’s action.” Aside from being the birthday of the Church, the Pentecost event reveals the marvels of and the unification of the Church, the body of Christ.

The second reading (Galatians 5:16-25) states that indulgence is the opposite of the spirit. St. Paul gives, fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness and orgies as inordinate indulgent behaviours which are opposite to living the life of the spirit. On the contrary, the Apostle lists what the spirit brings as: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control.  

St. John tells us in the gospel that the Spirit is for witnessing and an enabler which will lead Christians to the complete truth. It recalls Jesus’ assurances that the spirit is the advocate or helper. The reading emphasizes that the Spirit would glory the father because it will disclose to us the father’s will.   

Pastoral Application/Lessons

1.      Christians are charged to celebrate the birthday of the Church in pomp and pageantry while focusing on new missions;

2.       Christian leaders are challenged to lead the Church in the way of truth and justice revealed by the spirit as against running the Church on the whims and caprices of human beings;

3.      We are urged to pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to fall dawn again in our hearts and homes so that our society would be the citadel of the fruits of the Holy Spirit;

4.      At a time when our country is at crossroads politically and economically, Pentecost affords us the chance to storm the heavens for revamping the anointing and transforming power of God in our country;

5.      Pentecost Sunday presents us with the opportunity to ask for God’s recharging power and total liberation for Christians who are persecuted especially our dear Leah Sharibu who is still in the hands of Boko Haram.

6.      On the day of Pentecost, all those who are suffering from the weakness of the flesh in terms of temper and lost are assured of God’s resuscitating power which is able to do much more than they can ask or imagine;

7.      We are charged to unite ourselves more firmly to Christ and allow for an increase in the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our lives;

8.      Since the Holy Spirit is able to make our bond with the Church more perfect, it behoves Christians to ask God for the special strength to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ through confessing the name of Christ boldly and never being ashamed of the Cross (Cf. CCC no.1303).   

9.      We are tasked to embrace Catholic Action which entails witnessing to the Gospel in a highly visible way, now and always.

10.  We are charged to pray at all times for God’s forgiveness (John 20:19-23) personally and ecclesially in terms of sacramental confession.  

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

1.      “Holy” and “Spirit” are divine attributes common to the three divine persons namely, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

2.      The Holy Spirit is the proper name of the one whom we adore and glorify with the Father and the Son.

3.      The Holy Spirit changes/transforms whatever it comes in contact with.

4.      The Pentecost event reveals the marvels of and the unification of the Church, the body of Christ.

5.      The Spirit is for witnessing and an enabler which will lead Christians to the complete truth.

Conclusion

Beloved in Christ, we are challenged to preach the Gospel publicly and make a commitment to dogged leadership in the Christian community as the apostles did. Our liturgy charges us to paralyze our fears for courageous witnessing. We can achieve this by putting into practice our spiritual gifts. May the Holy Spirit rewrite our history; may it change and redirect our destiny for good; may make us better than the best; may it lift us higher than the highest; may it come as fire to warm us; may it come as wind to cleanse us; may it come as light to guide our way and may it come as power to grant us divine enablement both now and forever more. Happy Pentecost Sunday!