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 Pentecost Sunday, Year C: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: The Unifying and Renewing Power of the Holy Spirit

Readings: Acts: 2:1-11; Rm 8:8-17; Jn 14:15-16,23b-26

Dearest brothers and sisters, today the Mother Church celebrates her birthday, the solemnity of the Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples with tongues of fire, empowering them to speak in many languages. It was the day the Holy Spirit confirmed the institution of the Church and empowered the disciples of Jesus to begin the ministry entrusted to them by Jesus.

Actually, the term ‘Pentecost’ means the fiftieth day, and it was on the fiftieth day after the resurrection that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. According to the Old Testament traditions, the feast of the Pentecost was already an important feast in the life and history of the Jews. On this day, the Israelites celebrated two events in their history. First, on Pentecost, the Jews commemorated the giving of the ten commandments to Moses by God on Mount Sinai, which happened fifty days after the Passover. They called it the feast of weeks (in Hebrew language, ‘chang ha shevout’). Secondly, on the Pentecost, Jews also celebrated their agricultural feast, offering the first loaves from their farm to God. They called it the festival of Harvest (in Hebrew language, Yom ha-bikkurim). These two great Jewish feasts, celebrated on the Pentecost, attracted a considerable number of Jews from around the globe to Jerusalem, allowing them to connect with their faith and homeland. It was due to this large assembly of Jews in Jerusalem for their feasts that many people from various parts of the world were present on the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, as described in the first reading. So, Christ chose the best day to send the Holy Spirit upon his disciples and to inaugurate his church – the day the whole world gathered in Jerusalem – so that the message of the resurrection will reach the whole world.

The feast of Pentecost is very important in the life of the church because of the impact of the Holy Spirit on the early Church, the contemporary Church, and on each of us. It was the Holy Spirit that transformed the apostles from fearful men into men who were filled with strength and courage to preach the Good News to all humanity. It is essential to recall that prior to Pentecost, the disciples were afraid of going out to preach the Good News; however, once the Holy Spirit descended upon them, they rushed out of the house and began to proclaim the message of the resurrection boldly. The presence of the Holy Spirit made the difference and has continued to make a difference. Therefore, let us pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit in our Churches and homes, to liberate us from our fears and to empower us with the courage to be effective witnesses of Christ wherever we live and wherever we go.

The coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles also signified that the hand of God has once more assumed control over humanity. In the book of Genesis, chapter eleven, as we read in the first reading of the vigil mass of this feast, we heard the story of the Tower of Babel. In this story, God used the power of different languages to confuse and disperse humanity all over the world when they wanted to build a tower of equality with Him. However, on the feast of Pentecost, God utilized the same tool of multiple languages to reunite humanity. The first reading of today told us that the disciples spoke in many languages on the Pentecost, yet people of other tongues understood them in their own languages. It was indeed a great unity through language. Dear friends, what this unity of language tells us is that Pentecost is a feast of unity and new life. It is the celebration of the outpouring of new life into the church and the world because the hand of God has touched humanity once again. This feast challenges us, who have been blessed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to live the life of unity and newness.

Dear friends, if the hand of God has touched you through the Holy Spirit, your life should bear the fruits of unity and newness; your life should testify to the presence of the Holy Spirit. This was the point St Paul was making in the second reading of today. He indicated that there should be a clear distinction between the lives of those who are governed by the flesh (meaning those who have not received the Spirit) and the lives of those who are guided by the Spirit. St. Paul expects that all of us in whom the Spirit dwells to live exemplary lives in the world. It would be quite unfortunate if those who embody the Spirit of Christ were to lead lives contrary to Christ's teachings, indulging instead in a life that satisfies the flesh. The lives of those who possess the Spirit of Christ should yield the fruits of love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Let us, therefore, ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for us in today’s mass and that the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, which have been bestowed upon us and the Church—namely, the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, understanding, piety, and fear of the Lord—may be revitalized, enabling us to live a renewed life characterized by unity, love, peace, harmony, charity, and kindness everyday of our life. Let us unite our voices with that of today's psalmist in prayer, saying, "Lord, send forth your spirit, and renew the face of the earth." Amen.

Peace be with you.

Happy feast of the Pentecost.

Rev. Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima