PENTECOST SUNDAY

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

Acts 2:1-11

Psalm 104

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

John 20:19-23

Theme: THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE RESTORER

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

The first two verses of the first chapter of Genesis tells us, "In the beginning,...the earth was formless and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, 'let there be light; and there was light.'" The breath (the creative wind; the Spirit) of God created light, life, and order out of a dark and formless void. That was the beginning of all that is.

The Psalmist, in today's Responsorial Psalm, celebrates God as a creator par excellence and identifies His Spirit (the Holy Spirit) as the principal agent of creation and the Person behind all the beauty and the order that we see. For the Psalmist, the Holy Spirit is not just a creator but also a regenerator and restorer among us. "...when you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth (Psalm 104:30).

Beloved in Christ, the Holy Spirit is the regenerative and restorative power of God. He is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity and has the power to recreate and restore us to our original dignity. Wherever the wind of the Spirit blows, there is life and order (Ezekiel 37:1-14). He recreates what the evil one has destroyed and renews what our sins have corrupted.

The devil has stolen and destroyed a lot of beautiful and good things from us. We have also, through our actions and inactions, contributed to the corruption, emptiness, and chaos in our lives. We have lost our original dignity and have become like dry bones. We need a renewal! We need the Holy Spirit!

As we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit today, let us pray to God to send down His Spirit once again to renew the face of the earth; to recreate and restore our lost dignity.

PRAYER

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre 

Sunday, May 19,  2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

READINGS AT MASS

Acts 10: 25-26, 34-35, 44-48

Psalm 98

1 Jn. 4:7-10

John 15: 9-17

Theme: JUMPING FOR A FRIEND

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

Human beings have their ways of getting things done and every human institution has its own procedures; the steps to follow to achieve a purpose. These processes are there to ensure some kind of order, decency, and equality. Despite these steps, people remain partial and discriminate. In his partiality, man can twist systems and processes to the disadvantage of the less fortunate in society and achieve his own end.

God, however, has an interesting way of breaking these human protocols in favor of his own. He sometimes jumps few steps to make it difficult for people to refuse or prevent His children from receiving their portion of the good things of life.

The events of today's First Reading came as a surprise to Peter and the circumcised believers who were with him. This surprise is clearly expressed in Peter's question. Realizing that Cornelius and his household have received the gift of the Holy Spirit without first being baptized (Acts 19:1-7), he asked, "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?" Indeed, no one can prevent a process that God Himself has confirmed.

Beloved in Christ, God can jump human steps to make things easier for his friends. The privilege we have as friends of God is the fact that our God continues to initiate the process in our favor that no human authority, not even our sinfulness can stand against. This is how privileged we are in Jesus Christ.

Human processes, like a circumcised Jew confirming a non-circumcised pagan, can be long and are sometimes subject to corruption, tribalism, nepotism, and the sentiments of people who otherwise would have nothing to do with us. The good news, however, is that like Cornelius and the disciples of Jesus, we have a friend in a high place.

We have a friend in Jesus. His love for us has changed our status from slaves to friends. You are my friends if you do what I tell you. I no longer call you slaves...I have called you friends...(cf. Today’s Gospel). This friendship places us in a privileged position. A position to move ahead no matter what people think or feel.

As His friend, God will not leave your fate in the hands of a human process.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, your love for humanity has turned slaves into friends. It is a privilege to be called your friend. May I also be counted among your friends. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, May 5, 2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.