PENTECOST SUNDAY: The Rush of a violent wind

READINGS AT MASS

Acts 2:1-11

Psalm 104

1 Cor. 12:3-7, 12-13

John 20:19-23

Theme: THE RUSH OF A VIOLENT WIND

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

When it comes to changing the world, we do not need an army of Special Forces. It is good and simple people with a brave Spirit who will alter the course of our world for good.

Yesterday, I watched an emotional video which I shared on my Facebook wall and on my WhatsApp status. It was about a simple brave-spirited woman who stood her grounds against injustice when she placed herself in a dangerous position between a young guy and the Harthorn Police Department in the United States in order to save the young guy's life. This is a woman who cannot stand the injustice of the institutions any longer. Something moved in her. There was a "powerful jolt" within her: the work of a good Spirit. A Spirit that cannot tolerate injustice and fear. 

In the First Reading of today's Liturgy, the events of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is compared to "the rush of a violent wind" (Acts 2:2). An imagery that describes the nature and the essence of the Holy Spirit. 

Beloved, The Holy Spirit is a divine storm with a powerful force. He is a force that is not an end in itself but effects change. Like every violent wind, the Holy Spirit "jolts" things into motion. Wherever the Spirit blows, He frees hearts that are chained in fear and sets cold hearts ablaze to the point where they cannot take evil and injustice any longer. 

The Holy Spirit is a brave Spirit that transforms. No human power or institution except the Holy Spirit can revolutionize the world. He blows and burns within the heart until there is a total transformation. He jolts "simple"people, who are open to Him, beyond their fears and selfish personal security to the point where they are able to stand up against all unjust systems an say to the surprise and the admiration of onlookers that enough is enough. The transformation of the Holy Spirit is a beautiful sight to behold. (Acts 2:7-8).

Today, more than ever, our world needs simple people who will allow the power of Holy Spirit to "jolt" them into becoming the best version of themselves, who will be brave enough to say no to evil and unjust systems. 

PRAYER

O God, who did teach the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

May God bless you.

- Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre 

Sunday, May 31, 2020.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER: THE UPPER ROOM

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

Acts 1:12-14

Psalm 27

1 Pt. 4:13-16

John 17:1-11

Theme: THE UPPER ROOM

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

In today's First Reading, the disciples, after the Ascension of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem and went up into the upper room and locked themselves up. They cut the outside world off and united themselves in prayer until the heavens were opened. (Acts 2:4) We learn a lesson from them: those who bring themselves to the place of prayer must be prepared to 'lock themselves up' and continue in prayer until they get what they are expecting.

The Upper Room, also known as the Cenacle, is located in the southern part of the Old City of Jerusalem on Mount Zion. It is the traditional site of the Last Supper, where the Apostles stayed whenever they were in Jerusalem. It is at this place that Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles, where the Risen Lord made Himself visible after the resurrection, where He exposed His wounds to be seen and touched and finally, it was the birth place of the Church in the presence of our Blessed Mother on the day of Pentecost. It is the most important room - the War Room - for Jesus and His disciples. It was an intimate place where they could just be themselves and enjoy the relentless love of their Master, Jesus Christ.

In May 2014, Pope Francis on his visit to the Holy Land, was given the opportunity to celebrate the Holy Mass in the Upper Room. At the beginning of the Mass, he said, "it is a great gift that the Lord has given us by bringing us together in the Upper Room for the celebration of the Eucharist. Perhaps it is because the Apostles spent so much time with Christ in this Holy Place that we see most clearly their various personalities when they are gathered here, particularly at the Last supper. Tellingly, it was here that Jesus predicted Judas' betrayal and Peter's denial and here exposed Thomas' doubt...The humanity of each Apostle is vibrantly portrayed in here, giving us a glimpse into our own hearts and nature, as well as into the relentless love of Jesus Christ. It is 'A Place.'"

Beloved in Christ, we must learn to have "A place". We must learn to have an Upper Room where we can go up into and prepare in prayer for great gifts from God. Like the disciples, we all need our spiritual war rooms; a place and a period to prepare for our own Pentecost. A place and a period where we actually pray for that special favour. Every Christian needs a private high place where he goes to meet or wait on God in prayer and fight the spiritual battles of life. We need a place where we can lock ourselves up and storm the heavens until God opens the floodgates of His blessing.

Beloved, do you have a place where you can just be yourself with God? A place where you can expose your weakness, humanity and pain and experience His love? A place where He can reveal His wounds (received for your sake) for you to see and touch?

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, we beseech you to deliver us from the temptations and distractions that hinder us from communing with you effectually in prayer. Lord, grant to us the grace of steadfastness in prayer. Amen.

May God bless you.

- Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, May 24, 2020.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER: IS YOUR HEART TROUBLED?

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

Acts 6:1-7

Psalm 33

1 Pt. 2:4-9

John 14: 1-12

Theme:

IS YOUR HEART TROUBLED?

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

Today's Gospel is one of the most consoling sermons delivered by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. It is was an encouragement and an assurance to the disciples as troubled days loomed. Jesus had just informed them about His iminent departure, Peter's betrayal and the approach of Judas - a friend turned traitor. The disciples and probably their Master were greatly troubled by these revelations. It was at this point that Jesus turned to them with this great message of encouragement, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me."

Beloved in Christ, mortal men are bound to face dark days and stormy seas in which their hearts will be terrified and they will be scared to death. At this point those who come with encouraging sermons must also come with a REASON. There is but only one reason for which the heart of mortal men must not be troubled. Jesus not only commands us to get rid of our fears; He has also given us a reason. He says: "Believe in God and believe also in me." Our Faith and Trust in God and in Jesus Christ, the Son is a sure anchor that calms a troubled heart.

The Greek word that was translated to mean "troubled" in our text can also mean "tossed around" to refer to how ships are tossed about in troubled seas. The human heart is bound to be tossed about with fear and anxiety in difficult times. But faith in God, like a heavy anchor, keeps it steady.

The global problem of COVID-19 is causing many hearts to be troubled. Many are the hearts that are anxious about the uncertainties, many are the hearts that are stressed and many more are the hearts that are worried. In this time of a global pandemic, the Words of Jesus come to our troubled hearts as an encouragement and also as a sure reason to remain calm and optimistic, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me..."

PRAYER

Lord God, you look upon those who revere you and hope in your love to rescue their souls from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Calm our hearts in this time of a global pandemic. Amen.

May God bless you.

- Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, May 10, 2020.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER: THE RISEN LORD, THE GATE TO THE SHEEPFOLD

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

Acts 2:14, 36-41

Psalm 23

1 Pt. 2:20-25

John 10: 1-10

Theme:

THE RISEN LORD, THE GATE TO THE SHEEPFOLD

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Easter which is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. 

"Secure the entrance and set up a perimeter" is a familiar phrase for security forces. It means in order to secure a given target, one must position men at the entrance of and around the target. Thus proper security measures begin with a secured entrance (gate). In today's Gospel, Jesus in His "I am the Good Shepherd" discourse mentioned that He is THE GATE TO THE SHEEPFOLD. In order to understand this statement from Jesus Christ and what He actually meant, we have to look at the life of shepherds in ancient Palestine.

At the time of Jesus, in addition to all their functions, shepherds also served as gates to the sheepfold. Shepherds at that time were mostly nomads. They took their sheep out for days looking for pasture. In the evening, as night approached, they would lead the flock to a cave or a makeshift enclosure made of piled up rocks in order to shelter them. Since there are no gates to secure the entrance to the cave, the shepherds slept at the entrance to secure the enclosure and protect the sheep. The shepherd thus literally becomes the door to the sheepfold. Any predator that wished to go in must first have to pass through him.

Beloved in Christ, Jesus Christ is the Gate to the sheepfold. He, as the good Shepherd, is both Lord (First Reading) and guardian of our souls (Second Reading). With the Risen Lord and Good Shepherd as the Gate to our lives, we are secure beyond all measure. Nothing provides a sure security like Jesus Christ the Risen Lord. His presence at the entrance of the cave of our lives in the dark nights of this world is all we need to sleep in peace. In this difficult and scary times, let us rest assured that the ever present and protective care of Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord still abides. 

With our Lord Jesus Christ as the Gate, we can rest assured that our 'entrance' is secure and our 'perimeter', set.

PRAYER 

Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Risen Lord and Shepherd of our souls. May your presence and protective care always abide with us. Amen. 

May God bless you.

- Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre 

Sunday, May 3, 2020.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.