HOMILY FOR PENTECOST SUNDAY YEAR A. (2)

HOMILY FOR PENTECOST SUNDAY YEAR A.

THEME: THE FIRE OF THE HOLY GHOST!

BY: Benedict Agbo (Rev Fr)

*Act 2: 1 – 11, 1 Cor 12: 3 – 13, Jn 20: 19 – 23.

*A. PREAMBLE*
The biblical symbol of fire stands out among other symbols used in describing the Holy Spirit such as breathe, cloud, dove or anointing. The following characteristics have been identified with the Pentecost:
(i) Empowerment – represented by the image of a powerful wind.
(ii) Noise – ushering in the era of boldness.
(iii) Zeal – represented by the image of tongues of fire.
(iv) Praying in the Spirit – shown by the new gift of speech that enables us talk to God in a new way.
(v) Understanding – the gift of interpretation of tongues were released so that there would be no confusion of language that day. People from different tribes and tongues where able to communicate in the Spirit that day.

The Holy Ghost fire is an instrument of (i) Deliverance /arrest of sinners, eg St Paul, Act 9: 4 and Moses, Ex 3: 2. (ii) Empowerment /embodiment of Christians, eg the apostles on Pentecost day, Act 1: 8. (iii) Sanctification of believers, Jn 16: 8. Fire of God’s love (iv) Illumination of souls, eg in Saints like Francis de Sales. (v) Consummation of evil spirits and forces, eg Elijah and the Prophets of baal, 1 Kg 18: 38. Our God is a consuming fire, Heb 12: 29.

*B. GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT*
There are varieties of gifts of the Holy Spirit with different purposes; (a) Vocational/ Hierarchical gifts; These are gifts that help one exercise his/ her basic calling/ vocation in life. They are arranged hierarchically by St Paul as follows; 1. Apostles, 2. Prophets, 3. Evangelists, 4. Pastors, 5. Teachers, Eph 4: 9 – 13.
(b) Charismatic gifts; These gifts enable us to function better in the Church
– (i) Wisdom, (ii) Faith, (iii) Knowledge, (iv) Prophecy (v) Tongues. (These are generally called gifts of utterance).
– (vi) Healing, (vii) Miracles, ( viii) Discernment, (ix) Interpretation. ( These are generally called gifts of help), 1 Cor 12: 4 – 11.
(c) Indwelling Spiritual gifts; These gifts make us holy and worthy candidates of heaven;
(i) Wisdom (ii) Insight (iii) Cousel (iv) Power (v) Knowledge (vi) Piety (vii) Fear of God.
(d) Fruits of the Holy Spirit; These are clear visible signs of the true presence of the Holy Spirit in a soul: (i) Love (ii) Joy (iii) Peace (iv) Patience (v) Kindness (vi) Goodness (vii) Gentleness (viii) Trustfulness (ix) Self Control.

The most important gift of the Holy Spirit in the Church is the gift of PEACE AND RECONCILIATION, Jn 20: 9 – 13. That is why going to Confession before Pentecost is a good way of fulfilling our Easter duty.

*C. ERA OF RENEWAL /EMPOWERMENT*
Ever since Pope John XXIII prayed for a new Pentecost, the Spirit of renewal has been felt in all the Churches – renewal in faith (expectant faith) and prayer life, power, 2 Tim 3: 5, Bible study, praise worship and generally, renewal in relationship – seeing the Holy Spirit as a person not just a thing or force; (i) He speaks, Rev 2: 7- Listen to what the Spirit speaks to the Churches, (ii) He intercedes, Rom 8: 26 – in our weaknesses, (iii) He testifies, Jn 15: 26 – Jesus says it ‘bears witness to me’, (iv) He leads, Rom 8: 14 – led by the Spirit, (v) He can be lied to or offended or defiled, Act 5: 3 – 4 – Ananias lied to him, Eph 4: 30 – Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, 1Cor 6: 18 – Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, do not defile it.

*D. CONCLUSION*
In summary, the works of the Holy Spirit is in the area of regeneration and sanctification of believers. He will prove to the world how wrong it was about sin, righteousness and judgment Jn 16: 8.
It is also important that we do not limit or over amplify him with either our philosophy or theology; with our scientific or gullible minds. God gives us different gifts of the Holy Spirit according to our needs and temperaments. May God grant us both the fire /zeal of Pentecost and the wisdom and discernment to pull through the ordinary seasons of the year. Happy Pentecost!

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