Veni Spiritus Sanctus!

06-09-2019Weekly ReflectionRev. Julius Kundi

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Today we celebrate Pentecost which is the solemn descent of the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, on the Christian Church. The Feast of the Pentecost celebrates at least three essential things in the faith of the church:

  1. It marks or celebrates the end of Easter. For Easter is not one-day celebration; it is rather a 50-day celebration.
  2. Pentecost also celebrates the Holy Spirit, the 3rd person of the Blessed Trinity, God Himself.
  3. It celebrates the launching, the first appearance in public of the church of Christ.

For the Jews, Pentecost was originally a Feast of Thanksgiving, similar to our harvest thanksgiving festivals in African Church today. First fruits are brought to God's altar in thanksgiving acknowledging the gift of a bountiful harvest. Later it became an occasion to commemorate the giving of the law to Moses on mount Sinai. However, in the New Testament, Pentecost is celebrated by the early church on the 50th day after the Resurrection of Christ and taught that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have become the new law.

The first reading describes in details the miraculous transformation that took place during the first Pentecost. This transformation made the apostles new creation. It was a confirmation that Jesus fulfilled his promise that they would receive 'power from on high'. This power from on high made the apostles the first fruits of the church and the gifts of the Holy Spirit became very evident in the infant church – by miracles, words and actions. The Holy Spirit transformed them into the body of Christ and breathed into them the mind of Christ. This was necessary to prove to the pagans that the Christian religion was from the real God who controls all things.

Even today, the Holy Spirit comes to abide with the church, to direct and to protect it.

It comes to help the leaders of the church to preserve, explain and spread the gospel of hope, love, freedom or liberation which Christ brought on earth. The same spirit helps and aids each member of the church to live a life of holiness by following Christ's teaching. The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts which are Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Piety, Counsel and Fortitude, in other to make one holy and of great service to the church. It also gives spiritual fruits which include love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (see Gal. 5.22-23). Also, the Holy Spirit gives spiritual charism which include teaching, healing, prophecy, discerning spirits, interpreting tongues and so on. All these gifts, fruits or charism are NOT given to an individual for his honor or glory but to help to build the church.

Yes today is the great day of Pentecost when Christ filled the church with the power of his spirit and sent it out into the world to bring his peace, joy, love and forgiveness to all mankind. What would the Church be like if it were vibrant with the Holy Spirit?

We need to get the church to be vibrant with the Holy Spirit so that we can bear these first fruits that the spirit gives. So shall the world know that we are indeed true disciples of Jesus the CHRIST.

Fr. Julius

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