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

Pentecost Sunday –   May 31, 2020

Readings: Acts 2:1-11; Responsorial Psalm Ps 104:1ab.29bc-30.31.34(R.30);

 1 Cor. 12:3b-7.12-13 & Gospel John 20:19-23.

Theme: Birthday of the Church: A Fitting Celebration!

Sunday Synopsis

The Greek word Pentekoste which means fiftieth stands for a celebration which occurred 7 weeks after the Passover. It was primarily a feast of thanksgiving for harvest but was later associated with the giving of the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. It was on this day when all Jews at home and those in the diaspora came together that the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles. In the second reading, St. Paul underscores the importance of unity of the spirit when he said: “Jews and Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” In the gospel, Jesus challenges us to embrace the missionary enterprise through peace and reconciliation!  

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, today is Pentecost Sunday – This day is crucial in the life of the Church because it marks the birthday of the Catholic Church. The word 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. We shall reflect on the theme: “Birthday of the Church: A Fitting Celebration!”

Background and Summary of the Readings

The first reading (Acts 2:1-11) recounts the miracle of speaking in tongues on the day of Pentecost when a sound came from heaven like a mighty wind and filled where the apostles were. It tells how the spirit fell like tongues of fire on the apostles who spoke and Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene and visitors from Rome (Jews and proselytes), Cretans and Arabians could hear them talking in their own tongues about the mighty works of God.  

In the second reading (1 Cor. 12:3b-7.12-13), St. Paul assures that no one can say “Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” He goes ahead to state that there are a variety of gifts but given by the same Lord. Paul noted that just as one body has many parts, so also we though many are one in Christ. He surmised that: “For by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body – Jews and Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”  

The gospel reading (John 20:19-23) reveals how Jesus appeared to the timid apostles with the message: “Peace be with you.” We are told he showed them his hands and his side and they were glad to see him. He then gave them the Great Commission: “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” He breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Pastoral Lessons

1. Speak in Tongues of Love: Today, the first reading reminds us to eschew any speaking in tongues that is bereft of concrete charity to our brothers and sisters amidst the current health crisis across the world.

2. Celebrate Diversity: Pentecost celebration assures that though many we may be, we are united in diversity which further calls us to live out the Church’s catholicity (universality) to the full.  

3. Celebrate the Church: Since Pentecost makes the formal formation or birthday of the Church, Catholics should realise that their church predates the Reformation of 31 October 1517 to 33AD when on Pentecost Sunday, the Church (Catholic) (Acts 2:1-4, 38-42) began – We are charged to proudly celebrate the Church’s birthday!

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

Stories as Spiritual Lungs of a Continent: 15 Adaptations of Pope Francis’ 54th World Communications’ Day Message for Africa

By Justine John Dyikuk

1. There is no Continent of the world that Pope Francis’ choice of the theme of storytelling for the 54^th World Communications’ Day Message which was given in Rome, at Saint John Lateran, on 24 January 2020, Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales finds expression like Africa where the story-telling matrix is employed as a purveyor of truth and morals – Since as a story-telling people children often gather at the family compound or village square for tales by the moonlight in a typical African setting where the moon brings joy, light and energy to the community, we need to invest heavily in digital storytelling formats so that those stories of yester-years can be retold in modern catechism/catechises through VCDs/DVDs or Cinema and Digital television screens.

2. In a Continent is badly battered by years of colonialism, neo-colonialism/political shenanigans, militarism and exploitation of resources, the Holy Father’s message to avoid stories that “tear down” and strive for those which “build up” towards helping us to rediscover our roots and the strength to move forward together is key.

3. The 54^th World Communications’ Day Message reminds us about the critical place of forging universal bonds of unity. This is why it read it part: “We need a human story that can speak of ourselves and of the beauty all around us. A narrative that can regard our world and its happenings with a tender gaze. A narrative that can tell us that we are part of a living and interconnected tapestry. A narrative that can reveal the interweaving of the threads which connect us to one another.” 

4. Philosophic sagacity unveils the huge story-telling capacity of African peoples which further helps us to weave our stories from birth through childhood, adolescence, days of youthfulness, adulthood and old age to death in order to shape our convictions or behaviours towards understanding and communicating “who we are.” 

5. The Pontiff made the point that stories “give us not only the word textile but also text” to weave the thread of our “heroes’” narratives and ours as well, perfectly – This is a wakeup call for the people of Africa to remember their everyday heroes of faith like Saints Felicity, Perpetua, Charles Lwanga, Kizito and our Blessed Cyprian Michael Tansi amongst others too numerous to mention who were driven by the force of love which made them courageous in the face death so that “we can find reasons to heroically face the challenges of life.”