SELECTED REFLECTIONS FOR THE WEEK
PENTECOST SUNDAY
FIRST READING: Acts 2:1-11
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm104: 1ab.24ac.29bc-30.31and 34 (R. cf. 30)
SECOND READING: Romans 8:8-17
GOSPEL READING: John 14:15-16.23b-26
OR-ONGU HEMBAFAN FELICITY
As the apostles spoke in different languages on the day of Pentecost and were heard and understood by the people. We are also encouraged today not to speak languages of division but of love, forgiveness,peace and unity for a better spread of the gospel.
NATHANIEL ONWUASOEGWU
My reflection is on the second reading.
It beats my imagination how the Christians of today claim to be under the influence of the holy spirit and yet still slavery to sin.
It is evident that if we are in the spirit according to saint Paul's teaching we become fellow heirs with Christ.
There is a clause to this heirship of Christ and it says provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
So we must love Christ first to be able to suffer with him.
Looking at the apostles of Christ looking at disciplines one will clearly see what it meant to suffer in Christ.They loved him and took the bullets for him when it mattered most.
But today's Christianity has taken a new dimension especially as regards the spirit.
People make different sounds strange sounds and say that they are under the spirit.
This is not in any way similar to what the apostles received on the day of Pentecost.
The difference between today's tongue is too glaring.
Today noise and strange sounds have replaced the true meaning of tongues as shown by the apostles.
Today Christianity is all about noise noise and noise.
Everyone seems to be speaking in tongues and it's very difficult to ascertain what the real tongue is all about.
The holy spirit has become the most abused because everyone claims to be controlled by the spirit.
The truth is that in all of this we hardly see the fruit of the spirit because that is the only evidence that one is in the spirit all we see is claims and counter claims.
No one wants to suffer in the mystical body of Christ yet we keep claiming the spirit.
The spirit of God is the spirit of love and anything devoid of love is of the flesh.
Love makes us united and makes us live in harmony with one another.
The spirit of God when it comes to us will teach us how to love more and forgive more just like Christ.
So for us to have the holy spirit is not for everyone to be making strange sound as we see in today's Christianity but for all to live in love and act in love as exemplified by Christ.
So let's all learn to live in love because if we exhibit the whole gift and yet lack love the spirit will never come to us.
Love the sacraments love the church and above all let's love our fellow human then we can begin to talk about the holy spirit.
I pray God help us develop love for that is the real gift of the holy spirit.
Take away love there is no holy spirit.
So as we await the coming of the spirit let's love one another so when the spirit eventually comes it will find a dwelling place.
Ave!
ROSEMARY IBAZEBOBut you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit IF the Spirit of God REALLY dwells in you
So, it is not enough to say 'I am in the Spirit'. Infact, you don't need to say....by the fruits of your life, it is seen....not just only by works.
And this is why Jesus tells us in the Gospel - If a man loves me, he would KEEP my word. So, we can ask ourselves:
- How do I relate with the word of God I encounter in scriptures, at mass, when I hear a preaching etc?
- Do I obey them?
- Can I say the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, kindness, self control etc) are seen in me? Etc
Let us also remember that, as we seek for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the gifts are meant to be used for the good of the Church, and not for self aggrandisement.
Glory to Jesus!
NWAMARA CHISOMJesus promised his disciples that they would receive the Holy Spirit. Pentecost marks the fulfillment of that promise. The Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles,giving them courage to spread the good news to people from diverse backgrounds.May that same Holy Spirit also give us the courage to always spread the good news to everyone.
UDEH STELLA CHINYERE
"Another Divine Promise Kept"
God is ever faithful he has shown his fidelity time and again in the scriptures especially with moments and key events in the history of salvation. Angel Gabriel's message to Mary and her faith fulfills God's promise to The serpent .
I will put enmity between you and the woman between her seed and your seed Genesis 3:15, also the message of the Angel to Joseph and his dream instructing him to go ahead and marry Mary, thus making him the legal father of Jesus, guarantees the fulfillment of God's promise to David to make his dynasty last forever. 2nd Samuel 17.
The sending of the holy spirit to the believers on Pentecost day is another promise of God kept. This promise God made in Joel 3 1 -2, The Holy Spirit did not descend only on the 12 but on all members of the first Christian community. 120 in number. What this means for us today is that the gift of the holy Spirit is not the exclusive reserve of anyone or any group of people but one meant for the whole church, the body of Christ the lay faithful, and the consecrated persons alike.
The Holy Spirit is the one who empowers us and ensures our fruitfulness. Let us therefore seek to bond with him our helper and advocate since without him the church cannot function and we, her members would remain cold and timid.
Doing this is quite very simple just ask for him and you will be granted Luke 11:13.
Come O holy Spirit and filll the hearts of thy faithful and in enkindle in us the fire of thy love
