May 19, 2024
Solemnity for Pentecost Sunday (Yia B)
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Jesus tell dem again, “Make peace dey with una. As the Father send Me, na so I dey send una.” After E talk this one, E breathe on dem and tell dem, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Anybody wey una forgive im sins, God don forgive am; anybody wey una hold im sins, God still hold dem.” John 20:21–23
Happy Pentecost! Today, for the whole world, our Church dey celebrate how God pour out the Holy Spirit fully on the first followers of Jesus and on all of us. Why we need the Holy Spirit for our lives? Na important question wey we suppose think about well. Today, as always, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit dey work as One God. Na the Father want make we reconcile with Am; na the Son make this reconciliation possible; and na the Holy Spirit dey now bring this work to completion for our lives. The forgiveness of our sins na the main thing for this gift of salvation. The passage above show us clearly say Jesus give the Apostles, wey be His first bishops, one special gift of the Holy Spirit. E put for their hand the power to forgive sins for His name and by His power.
As we dey celebrate Pentecost, na good opportunity to think with prayer about wetin the Holy Spirit dey do for your life. One of the greatest ways wey the Holy Spirit fit work for your life na through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Through that Sacrament, the Holy Spirit dey draw you come meet the Father and help you see and understand His perfect will, so you go live more fully in union with the Son as member of His Body.
The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit na some of the other ways wey the Holy Spirit dey help us for our Christian journey. But these gifts no go fit work for our lives if we no first receive the gift of forgiveness wey God dey give through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Na this be the first work of the Holy Spirit wey be foundation for all the others, and e dey open door for every other gift. Maybe na why, the first time Jesus give the Holy Spirit, E focus on the power wey E give His Apostles to forgive sins for His name.
Once we don reconcile with the Father and begin live in a state of grace, the Holy Spirit go continue to make His relationship with us deeper and give us His help for our Christian journey. This one dey happen especially through the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gifts wey dey affect our power to think and understand pass na the gifts of Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge. Wisdom dey help us understand more clearly the inner life of the Trinity. Understanding dey help us understand our lives and mission according to the light of the Gospel. Knowledge dey help us make practical decisions wey agree with wetin God want.
The gifts of Fear of the Lord and Devotion to God dey help us love God. Fear of the Lord dey help us see how the things we do dey help or block our relationship with God. E dey move us to avoid everything wey dey harm this relationship and choose everything wey dey make am strong. Devotion to God dey help us see the great dignity and beauty of God, and e dey help us get deep reverence for Am and for all His people.
Na the Holy Spirit dey also give Good Counsel and Courage, and dem dey help us move forward firmly in faith and love. Good Counsel dey especially help us love our neighbour, and Courage dey add the strength we need to do everything wey God call us to do with love and commitment wey no dey shake.
As we dey celebrate the great Solemnity of Pentecost, think today about the power of the Holy Spirit wey dey change person. If you want open yourself so God go pour out the Holy Spirit fully for your life, and you go receive the many gifts wey you need for your journey of faith, then start with the gift wey be the foundation of all. Start with the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Think deeply about the words wey Jesus talk for our Gospel today, and know say, as E put for the hands of His first priests the grace to forgive sins for His name, Jesus dey also call you to welcome that gift. The Holy Spirit want make you clean from every sin. Allow Am do so, and all the grace wey go follow go amaze you.
My glorious Lord, You promise to send the Holy Spirit come upon us to lead us enter all Truth and reconcile us with the Father. You keep that promise for Pentecost, and now You still dey give the Holy Spirit to everybody wey believe. Holy Spirit, abeg, come upon me, especially by forgiving my sins for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and by filling me with Your seven Gifts. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
More to Read – Pentecost Sunday
Featured pictures wey dey above: Pentecost by Juan Bautista Maíno, through Wikimedia Commons
