Beloved in Christ,
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slaves
or free-and all were made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor 12:13). On May 4th (for the Star Wars fans, the popular pun, “May the Fourth be with you,” may come to mind), over fifty-seven years ago, I became grafted unto Christ, through the Holy Spirit I received in baptism. In the sprinkling of water rite at the beginning of mass this Sunday, we call to mind our baptism, the moment we were born anew and began to live the life in the Spirit (see Catechism of the Catholic Church 694). At our confirmation, for those who have received the sacrament of confirmation, the love of Christ poured into us through the Holy Spirit was strengthened, and Jesus gave the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit in abundance. We have all drunk of one Spirit, and though of diverse origin and background, we are made one to speak of and spread the Kingdom of Christ through “the life in the Spirit,” through the gifts and fruits of the Spirit that Jesus gave to us.
In the Gospel of John and the Acts of the Apostles proclaimed to us this morning, we hear of two instances in which believers received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In John 20, after the resurrection, Jesus breathed the Spirit into the apostles and accompanied it with the fruit of peace: “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” He did not stop there; he added the gift of forgiveness, a fruit of divine love (Jn 20: 22-23). In the Acts of the Apostles, the believers who had gathered together for nine days in prayer in the Upper Room were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance,” and people from every nation under heaven could hear them telling in their own languages “the mighty works of God” (Acts 2: 4, 11).
Now, what are we to do with all these biblical accounts of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit? We, too, should come together to pray for a continuous and repeated outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Let's pray for Pentecost made personal for the sanctification of individuals and the building up of the Church, the body of Christ. We already started this after the Ascension, when we began our novena to the Holy Spirit. Through the intercession of Jesus, the Father continues to renew the Holy Spirit and His gifts in believers who pray for them. How thirsty are you for the living waters of the Spirit? “On the day of Pentecost…Christ, the Lord, pours out the Spirit in abundance” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 731). Do you want to receive the abundance of the Spirit that Jesus gives to those who ask in faith? Do you want to bear witness to Jesus boldly and pray effectively in His name? Then, you need to pray that the flame of the Holy Spirit be rekindled in your heart because “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.” This is a unique day of grace to pray for the increase of the Holy Spirit's presence and power for yourself and our Church. Let us pray: “Veni, Sancte Spiritus. Come, Holy Spirit, Come!” And let that prayer continue beyond this mass today, when we come together to pray during our Pentecost Rally
in the Parish hall at 6 pm.
I want to express gratitude to all who participated in our annual 40 Hours Eucharistic devotion last week: the
hourly adorers of the Eucharist, the choir, the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, the Men’s Club, and the Council of Catholic Women, who prepared dinner for our invited guests on Tuesday evening, the office staff, and others. It was inspiring and nourishing. Fr. Benjamin Kwaghgba, OP, strengthened our faith in the power and fruits of the Sacred Banquet, the Holy Eucharist. May we put to use the lessons we gathered from the three-day Eucharistic teachings.
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slaves
or free-and all were made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor 12:13). On May 4th (for the Star Wars fans, the popular pun, “May the Fourth be with you,” may come to mind), over fifty-seven years ago, I became grafted unto Christ, through the Holy Spirit I received in baptism. In the sprinkling of water rite at the beginning of mass this Sunday, we call to mind our baptism, the moment we were born anew and began to live the life in the Spirit (see Catechism of the Catholic Church 694). At our confirmation, for those who have received the sacrament of confirmation, the love of Christ poured into us through the Holy Spirit was strengthened, and Jesus gave the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit in abundance. We have all drunk of one Spirit, and though of diverse origin and background, we are made one to speak of and spread the Kingdom of Christ through “the life in the Spirit,” through the gifts and fruits of the Spirit that Jesus gave to us.
In the Gospel of John and the Acts of the Apostles proclaimed to us this morning, we hear of two instances in which believers received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In John 20, after the resurrection, Jesus breathed the Spirit into the apostles and accompanied it with the fruit of peace: “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” He did not stop there; he added the gift of forgiveness, a fruit of divine love (Jn 20: 22-23). In the Acts of the Apostles, the believers who had gathered together for nine days in prayer in the Upper Room were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance,” and people from every nation under heaven could hear them telling in their own languages “the mighty works of God” (Acts 2: 4, 11).
Now, what are we to do with all these biblical accounts of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit? We, too, should come together to pray for a continuous and repeated outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Let's pray for Pentecost made personal for the sanctification of individuals and the building up of the Church, the body of Christ. We already started this after the Ascension, when we began our novena to the Holy Spirit. Through the intercession of Jesus, the Father continues to renew the Holy Spirit and His gifts in believers who pray for them. How thirsty are you for the living waters of the Spirit? “On the day of Pentecost…Christ, the Lord, pours out the Spirit in abundance” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 731). Do you want to receive the abundance of the Spirit that Jesus gives to those who ask in faith? Do you want to bear witness to Jesus boldly and pray effectively in His name? Then, you need to pray that the flame of the Holy Spirit be rekindled in your heart because “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.” This is a unique day of grace to pray for the increase of the Holy Spirit's presence and power for yourself and our Church. Let us pray: “Veni, Sancte Spiritus. Come, Holy Spirit, Come!” And let that prayer continue beyond this mass today, when we come together to pray during our Pentecost Rally
in the Parish hall at 6 pm.
I want to express gratitude to all who participated in our annual 40 Hours Eucharistic devotion last week: the
hourly adorers of the Eucharist, the choir, the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, the Men’s Club, and the Council of Catholic Women, who prepared dinner for our invited guests on Tuesday evening, the office staff, and others. It was inspiring and nourishing. Fr. Benjamin Kwaghgba, OP, strengthened our faith in the power and fruits of the Sacred Banquet, the Holy Eucharist. May we put to use the lessons we gathered from the three-day Eucharistic teachings.
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
RSS Feed