May 31, 2020
And suddenly, one sound come from sky like strong wind wey dey blow with force, and e fill di whole house where dem dey. Then tongues wey be like fire appear to dem; di tongues divide and settle on each one of dem. And di Holy Spirit fill all of dem, and dem begin speak different languages, as di Spirit give dem power to proclaim. Acts 2:2–4
You think say “sound like strong wind wey dey blow with force” really dey when God first pour out di Holy Spirit like this? And you think say “tongues wey be like fire” really come settle on everybody? Well, e very likely say na so e happen! If no be so, why dem for write am like that for Scripture?
These signs of di coming of di Holy Spirit, wey people fit see and hear, happen for plenty reasons. One reason na so that these first people wey receive di full outpouring of di Holy Spirit go clearly understand say something wonderful dey happen. As dem see and hear these signs of di Holy Spirit, their mind and heart dey more ready to understand say God dey do something great. Then, as dem see and hear these signs, di Holy Spirit touch dem, take over their whole being, fill dem and set dem on fire. Suddenly, dem discover inside themselves di promise wey Jesus make, and dem finally begin understand. Pentecost change their lives!
E very likely say we never see or hear these signs of di outpouring of di Holy Spirit, but we suppose rely on di testimony of those people for Scripture, so that we fit reach deep faith wey go change us: faith say di Holy Spirit dey real and E want enter our lives di same way. God want set our hearts on fire with His love, strength and grace, so that we go truly live lives wey dey bring change for di world. Pentecost no be only about us becoming holy; e also concern how God dey give us everything we need to go out and bring His holiness to everybody wey we meet. Pentecost dey enable us to be powerful instruments of God grace wey dey change people. And no doubt dey say di world around us need this grace.
As we dey celebrate Pentecost, e go help us to prayerfully reflect on di main things wey di Holy Spirit dey bring about. Below na di Seven Gifts of di Holy Spirit. These Gifts na di main things wey Pentecost dey bring about for each and every one of us. Use dem take examine your life, and let God show you where you need to grow more deeply for di strength of di Holy Spirit.
Lord, send Your Spirit into my life and set me on fire with di Gifts of Your Spirit. Holy Spirit, I invite You to take possession of my soul. Come, Holy Spirit, come change my life. Holy Spirit, na You I trust.
More Reflection Dem on Divine Mercy
Reflection Dem on di Gospel for Every Day
Saint of di Day – Di Visitation of di Blessed Virgin Mary
Dem no dey celebrate am as liturgical memorial this year because e fall on Sunday
More to Read – Pentecost Sunday
Picture: Pentecost by Jean II Restout
Seven Gifts of di Holy Spirit
Fear of di Lord: With this gift, di Christian dey sharply aware of anything wey fit damage di relationship wey e get with God. Holy “fear” dey to damage this relationship, and God dey give grace to avoid these things, no matter wetin e go cost.
Wisdom: With this gift, God dey give di Christian special grace to “reflect on divine realities” as e dey use reason think about deep truth. We fit see di whole picture and know di best way to be instrument of peace and unity for our world.
Understanding: Na di ability to get assurance about matters of faith wey pass wetin our natural power fit give us. Life come get meaning. We fit understand di deeper parts of wetin God don reveal, understand suffering, and understand those things wey dey tempt us to doubt. With this gift, we come see how everything for life fit work for good according to God plan.
Knowledge: With this gift, di Christian dey know wetin God want for this situation or that one, especially through di reason wey e dey use handle practical matters. We know how to live, how to discern wetin God want, and which decision to make for our everyday life. E also dey enable us to learn from di mistakes wey we don make before.
Counsel: With this gift, di Christian dey see imself as one link for di chain wey make up di whole Church. God dey use each one of us to help and support one another for our journey. We know wetin to talk and how to act, so that we fit do our own part to build one another up.
Fortitude: To talk am simply, na to stand firm for mind and spirit to do good and avoid evil. Na one kind of Christian courage. Di Gospel go call all of us to live life of love wey go change us from di root. Fortitude dey give us di strength wey we need to carry am through.
Devotion to God: Dis gift dey help us first to honour and love God, but e also dey help us to see di dignity wey each of us get and honour one another as children of God.
