Readings: Acts 2:1-11; Rom. 8:8-17; Jn. 14:15-16, 23-26
Not The Church of Pentecost
1. On the solemnity of Pentecost, we celebrate the Church's birthday. Today the Holy Spirit came down on the Apostles like flames of fire. “When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.”(Acts 2:1-4). Pentecost completes the saving work of Christ and enables the Apostles to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The Holy Spirit set them on fire to preach without fear of intimidation and transformed them into martyrs of the faith. Peter’s pedagogy on the day of Pentecost was so electrifying that those who heard him “Were deeply troubled and said, "what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Many “Believed his message and were baptized, and about three thousand people were added to their group that day.” (Acts 2:41).
2. The apostles needed the Holy Spirit to shake them up and transform them into warriors for the faith. Christ is present in his apostles through his Spirit. But Our Church does not resemble the Church of the day of Pentecost. Why is the Church on fire, and we are not consumed? Maybe we have too much money and no fire of the Spirit to effect changes in our people. Could it be that we spend our time chasing after material things and fewer minutes talking about spiritual things? This, for sure, will take away the power of the Spirit from the Church. To the lame beggar, Peter said: “I have no money at all, but I give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I order you to get up and walk!” (Acts 3:6).
3. We need the fire of the Holy Spirit for tolerance. We need constructive fire to build the community of God's people. The Holy Spirit has no time for pettiness, apathy, and jealousy. It drives out bigotry and hatred. It doesn't burn to destroy, nor is it fire for mistrust and misunderstanding. No, its fire of love will recreate the face of the earth. “Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful and renew the face of the earth.” Come and conquer the indifference in the world, fight the battles of our hearts, the internal conflicts of the flesh such as: “Immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies and the like.” (Gal. 5:19-21).
4. Send us the fire of the Spirit to plant in our hearts the fruit of the Spirit such as: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Gal.5:22-23). May the Holy Spirit give us its gifts of “Wisdom and understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, and fear of the Lord.” (Is. 11: 2-3). This is the fire we need, and until we have it, the Church will be ineffective; the oxygen will be withdrawn from her lukewarm fire, and it will be blown away. Instead of heat, we feel coldness; in place of warmth, we feel weak, empty, miserable, sad, unhappy, lifeless, and dead. We do not want a sad and lifeless church, a church where everyone is withdrawn. That is why churches are empty.
5. People no longer go to Church because it offers nothing. Such Churches preach a gospel devoid of good news, where the sermon is without content and so poorly delivered, that people are put to sleep. This type of preaching does not set fire to people’s stomachs for action. The fire of love is not in our hearts because the joy of the Gospel is not on our faces. Churchgoers are no more burning with zeal, and fire, the type that was blazing on the day of Pentecost. When the apostles received the Holy Spirit, they preached the Word, living the life of the Spirit and bearing the fruit of love. People saw how they lived and the hope they preached; they followed the Lord and were converted to the faith because they saw the joy of the Gospel in their lives and hope in their eyes. They were filled with joy at all times. They heard the apostles as they spoke in tongues and realized that they were telling the language of love in praise of God. That is what we need in our Church today, without which our Church cannot and will not be on fire.
6. Let us pray that we may be filled with the fire of the Spirit and be transformed into people of faith, courageous preachers, lovers of God, and lovers of God's people. Oh, Holy Spirit, come and fill our hearts, teach us to love and serve in humility and love. Help us to make a difference in the world. Amen!
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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