SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE
THEME: “THE SPIRIT THAT RENEWS THE FACE OF GOODNESS IN US”
INTRODUCTION:
The word “Pentecost” is from a Greek derivation; “Pentekostos” or “Pente-koste”, meaning “fiftieth day”. It is a Jewish holiday festival of Weeks which falls seven weeks after the Jewish Passover Feast. This “Weeks Festival” (“Shavuot” in Hebrew) stems from Leviticus 23:16, which called the people to count seven weeks or fifty days from the end of Passover, and present an offering of new grains to the Lord. This ‘Shavuot’ or Weeks Festival was the second great feast in the Hebrews’ annual cycle of holy days. Many, who have benefited from the year’s harvest, gather to thank the Lord of the harvest with grain offerings. It was on this day that the Holy Spirit descended on Mary and the Apostles; exactly fifty days after Easter. In the same context of bringing new grain offerings to the Lord, the Lord offered and poured out His own fruits/gifts of the Holy Spirit to the world.
THE FIRST READING (ACTS. 2: 1–11)
In the first reading, we read about the out pouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the effects. They began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance, imparting in the lives of the many races and tribes of people gathered for the Weeks Festival. The Holy Spirit renewed the face of their communication, and they spoke in the language everyone could understand. Their communication with the power of the Holy Spirit attracted many towards them. Today, we need the Holy Spirit to also renew the communication amongst us, amongst brothers and amongst nations who are still at war with each other. May the Holy eliminate every bridge in communication and help us to understand rather than misunderstand one another and live peacefully with one another!
THE SECOND READING (GAL. 5: 6–25)
In the second reading, we read about the fruits of the Holy Spirit which God offers to the world to renew our walks from walking in the darkness of the flesh, to walking by the Holy Spirit. We need and invoke the Holy Spirit upon us today, to change from walking in immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, hatred, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy and drunkenness; to walking in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and appeasing one another. The Holy Spirits renews us to appease and not to provoke one another.
THE GOSPEL READING (JN. 15: 26–27; 16: 12–15)
In the gospel reading, Jesus pre-empted the Apostles, that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will renew them in the truth and in their witnessing for Christ. And today, at the festival of weeks, they received the Holy Spirit and courageously sprang into witnessing, away from every fear, and idle, silent or cold faith.
CONCLUSION
The Holy Spirit comes to renew the face/warmth of God in us; the face/warmth of goodness. The Holy Spirit renews us in good communication with one another; renews us in walking in love and righteousness with one another; and renews us in fervent witnessing for Christ to the glory of God and our own glory. May the same Spirit pour forth upon us the gifts and unction for every good work, in relation to the world around us and in relation to God, without ever growing cold in faith and in love!
Happy Feast of Pentecost!
Fr. Justin