FEAST OF PENTECOST– 27^th /28^th MAY 2023

Dear Parishioners,

Reflection for Pentecost Sunday

Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.

Today we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles on the fiftieth day of Easter. Although this Pentecost encounter was not the first time the disciples received the Holy Spirit, as the

Gospel can testify, they had a spectacular mysterious encounter. On the day of the resurrection, when the Lord Jesus came to them, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit…” When the disciples received the Spirit on Pentecost Day, they were fully empowered to go out and proclaim the Risen Jesus without any fear. That is precisely what the Spirit does for us: granting us the power to overcome any fear and be free to worship God. Fear is not from God; the devil puts fear into us so we can doubt and disbelieve God’s power and presence. The power of the Holy Spirit frees us from fear. The only fear we ought to have been the fear of God: to fear dying in mortal sin and not in the state of grace.

In addition, the Spirit gave the power of understanding as in the language. The disciples spoke in tongues, meaningful to all the people who heard them. Language is so powerful, and it creates unity. Christ’s faithful worldwide speak a common language through the liturgy (Mass). The Church represents heaven on earth – symbolizes unity – people from every nation, race, language, etc. (Rev. 7:9). The Spirit binds us together in peace as Christ offered the disciples who were overcome with fear. The Spirit helps us to accommodate one another through a common language of love. In Baptism, which is the gateway to all sacraments and makes us members of the Church, we receive the Holy Spirit, as in Confirmation. Today’s celebration reminds us of that and the need to live our baptismal promises under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I bring you greetings from Iowa, where I have been performing my priestly ministry since December 2018. I have three rural parishes, the farthest being 42 miles away from where I live. Although the population of Iowa is about 3 million, there are four dioceses: Archdiocese of Dubuque, Diocese of Davenport, Diocese of Sioux City, and Diocese of Des Moines – where I am affiliated. There are 14 priests from Ghana serving in the Diocese of Des Moines, among priests of other nationalities.

Have a blessed week.

Fr Samuel