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 Pentecost Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Pentecost: Using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit Aright 

Readings: Acts 2:1–11; 1 Cor 12:3b–7, 12–13; Jn 20:19–23

Dearest brothers and sisters, Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. It is the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in the form of tongues of fire and inaugurated the Church, empowering them to begin the ministry Jesus had given them.

The word “Pentecost” means “fiftieth day,” and it was on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit upon His disciples.

The feast of Pentecost is very important in the life of the Church because of the profound impact of the Holy Spirit on the early Church, on the Church today, and on each one of us. The Holy Spirit has touched every one of us and has blessed us with many gifts. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that there are seven gifts which the Holy Spirit poured into our lives on the day we received the Sacrament of Confirmation. On this day when we commemorate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, it is fitting to reflect on these gifts, why they were given to us, and what is expected of those who have received them.

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. Why were these gifts given to us?

Wisdom helps us value rightly the things we believe through faith and to order our relationship with created things. It opens our eyes to God’s plan, helping us recognize what supports or harms it.

Understanding enlightens us to grasp and accept the truths revealed by God. Through this gift, the Holy Spirit allows us to penetrate the depths of God and perceive divine realities.

Counsel helps us judge rightly how to act, almost by intuition. It is the light that enables us to discern what is true and good.

Fortitude gives us the strength to follow the guidance of Counsel. It makes us courageous in facing the daily challenges of Christian life and is the virtue that sustained the martyrs in choosing death rather than denying the faith.

Knowledge helps us see the circumstances of our lives as God sees them. Through this gift, the Holy Spirit reveals God’s thoughts about us so that we may live accordingly.

Piety inspires in us a loving devotion to God, moving us to worship and serve Him out of love rather than obligation.

Fear of the Lord fills us with reverence for God and a desire not to offend Him in anything we do.

Possessing these gifts is a beautiful blessing for every Christian. However, it is not enough merely to possess them; what matters is how we use them and the fruits they produce in our lives and in our service to others. In his Letter to the Galatians (5:22), St Paul teaches that the gifts of the Holy Spirit must bear the following fruits: charity, love, joy, patience, peace, kindness, goodness, generosity, meekness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity. The true proof that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are being used well is when our lives reflect these fruits.

The failure to allow the gifts of the Holy Spirit to bear fruit was the issue at the heart of today’s second reading. While St Paul was in Ephesus, he received reports of divisions in the Church of Corinth. One of the major causes of these divisions was the misuse of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Instead of using their gifts to build unity and foster growth, some members used them to create rivalry and tension. They argued over who had the greater gift and who had the lesser. In today’s reading, St Paul addresses this division and reminds the Corinthians—and us—that our gifts come from the same Spirit and must therefore serve unity.

In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us that the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives should bear the fruits of forgiveness and peace.

Dear friends in Christ, the feast of Pentecost challenges us to examine ourselves and ask the following: What are we doing with the gifts the Holy Spirit has given us? Are we using them well, or are we using them to look down on others? Are we using them to build up our families, our Christian communities, and our society and to help our friends? Or are we using them in ways that create confusion and division?

On this day of Pentecost, let us ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle in us the gifts we have received and to help us use them to produce fruits that will bless humanity. Let us join our voices with the psalmist in praying: “Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth—renew our lives and renew our hearts.” Amen.

Peace be with you. 

Happy Feast of Pentecost. 

Rev. Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima