GRABBING THE PENTECOST OPPORTUNITY

HOMILY FOR PENTECOST SUNDAY, YEAR B

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

The Pentecost as a historical feast was one celebrated on the fiftieth day after the Passover. It was a feast that attracted a great number of people. Never was there a more international crowd in Jerusalem than at the time of Pentecost. The word Pentecost simply means ‘the fiftieth.’ The feast had two major significances; one, it celebrated and commemorated the giving of the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. It also has an agricultural significance; at Pentecost, two loaves were offered in gratitude to God for the ingathered harvest. In Leviticus 23:21, we read that no servile work is done on the day of Pentecost. One can now imagine how great a holiday this day was. When God desires to communicate, which he often does, he speaks to everyone. It was the divine will that many languages would be present on the very day when the Christian message would be radically disseminated by his apostles.

Focusing on the Readings of today (Acts 2:1-11, Gal. 5:16-25, John 15:26-27; 16:12-15), we have discover what this day of Pentecost signified in the life of the early followers of Jesus, and therefore, what it may signify for us today.

1. The moment that marked the end of waiting

This day came as the fiftieth day after the story and reality of the resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, the appearances of Jesus became episodes of refining, cleansing, learning and gathering of enough knowledge needed for the Gospel. The experience of the crucifixion and resurrection need some ample time to get saddled in these men. They had too much to experience. They had too much to talk about. They had too much to think about. But it would be in these moments that mature faith would be established. Thus, the day of Pentecost signified the moment when maturity was reached. The time of waiting is gone. It is now time for action. Pentecost gives us the message that it is time to act, because we have been tutored, refined, cleansed and now ready for work.

2. The moment that marked the end of scattering

The Pentecost day brought all the believers together. After the resurrection, many of the disciples of Jesus had the tendency to go back to their homes and their own businesses (John 21:1). They nearly gave up on hope. They were scattered. Each tried going on his own. With the appearances (John 20:19.20:26. 20:1; Matt. 28:16-17; Luke 24:13-31.51; Acts 1:9) Jesus made them aware that he lives and urges them not to give up in seeing that the kingdom of God is continually established in the world. So, the day of Pentecost became the day the disciples were gathered again. They were all together in one room. This means that the Pentecost became a feast of unity and oneness that erased the desire to pursue self-interest, which is only oriented to disunity. Pentecost gives us a message to leave our nets and follow the Lord. The moment of unity has come.

3. The moment that dispelled Fear

The Pentecost was a day that initiated fearlessness in the disciples. From that moment, the disciples of Jesus did not lock themselves up again out of the fear of the Jews. They were poised to die for Jesus, ready to win souls, and ever ready to speak to all and sundry about the good news. As their fears were being taken away, as it became a moment of boldness for them, it was a moment of unrest for the evil. What a great shock it was for the Jewish officials and those who killed Christ. One can imagine the trepidation that visited these evil men in the face of seeing these disciples in a fearless mood. Even the sound and movement of the mighty wind was a great thunderbolt for the wicked. The movement of the wind that entered the room where they stayed was a remarkable destruction for the wicked and evil. Pentecost destroyed evil and sprouted boldness and courage.

4. That moment of vivification and animation

Not only that Pentecost made the disciples bold and courageous, it gave them a new spirit to fight without feeling the pains of the fight. There was a totally new thing that happened. The spirit descended on them like tongues of fire. Those tongues became symbolic of a new identity of a church that is lead in the light, a church that is alive, a church that is vibrant, a church that is animated in the Spirit. The Pentecost is a promise fulfilled. The Holy Spirit, the chief animator of mission has arrived. The Church lives because the Paraclete has been with her. Thus, the day of Pentecost signifies the day a new fire was set up in the world. This fire is unquenchable, and no power can put it off. Pentecost then gives us a message to be children of light and to dispose ourselves to this tongue of fire, so that the Spirit perches on us. The Holy Spirit animates, and makes whatever that is dead alive. Being with Him is an assurance.

5. That moment of one voice and one understanding

It was on the day of Pentecost that humanity spoke one language which was understood by all. This was the language of the Holy Spirit. Only the Spirit can dispel such confusion. Before now, Galileans spoke to Galileans and only understood each other. This means that Parthians never understood the Galilean and vice versa. But with Pentecost, there was understanding. This is a clear sign that humanity is one. The message of the Pentecost then is to remind us of the oneness of humanity, and to exhort us to make this oneness felt now. We must pray with the Psalmist (Ps. 104:30) that the Lord sends his Spirit to renew the face of the earth.

The way to grab this Pentecost opportunity is to walk by the Spirit as Paul advised the Galatians (Second Reading; Gal. 5:16-25) and so advises us today. If we walk by the Spirit and expunge any sort of evil from us, the fruit of the Spirit will become saddled in us. We thank the Blessed Trinity for allowing humanity to experience the fullness of revelation in the Holy Spirit. All we need do is to continually allow the Pentecost experience to guide us. Happy Pentecost Sunday. God bless you.