Pentecost

Pentecost Day is set aside to remember the gifts sent by Jesus after his death and resurrection on after 50 days. It is exactly after 50 days that such occurred and many received the gift of the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus. The gifts Christians can now receive by being baptized and confirmed in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. Catholic churches in the world would on this special occasion either baptize, confirm or allow their young candidates to receive their First Holy Communion.

The gift of the Holy Spirit was promised by Jesus Himself who said was to send the apostles a special helper after his death. The apostles had several contacts with Jesus after His death. Those who sat outside of the game to watch them thought it was the end when Jesus was buried. Thomas one of his apostles could not believe until he has to deep his hand in Jesus' side when he confessed saying, "My Lord and my God." This meant a lot to him and those other apostles with him. Deep within it showed that he had put his all in Jesus despite his unbelief at the beginning. It is common to people today who at all cost when they hear of the death of a very close person would have the denial syndrome and would argue and show their unbelief like what happened to Thomas. But this did not mean he did not love Jesus, which was why he became one of the earliest apostles and virtually portrayed his human nature by showing that he could say yes or no to a given circumstance. After all these had happened Jesus showed by way of proof as to where he was pieced on his side and palm. This was a turning point in the life of Thomas and those with him. They then believed more and Jesus left them in love and gave them peace and asked them to share the same peace.

The gift of the Holy Spirit was promised by Jesus Himself who said was to send the apostles a special helper after his death. The apostles had several contacts with Jesus after His death. Those who sat outside of the game to watch them thought it was the end when Jesus was buried. Thomas one of his apostles could not believe until he has to deep his hand in Jesus' side when he confessed saying, "My Lord and my God." This meant a lot to him and those other apostles with him. Deep within it showed that he had put his all in Jesus despite his unbelief at the beginning. It is common to people today who at all cost when they hear of the death of a very close person would have the denial syndrome and would argue and show their unbelief like what happened to Thomas. But this did not mean he did not love Jesus, which was why he became one of the earliest apostles and virtually portrayed his human nature by showing that he could say yes or no to a given circumstance. After all these had happened Jesus showed by way of proof as to where he was pieced on his side and palm. This was a turning point in the life of Thomas and those with him. They then believed more and Jesus left them in love and gave them peace and asked them to share the same peace.

After all these, on the fiftieth day after His burial and just ten days after His Ascension, Jesus in fulfilling his promise of sending them His gift, the apostles were gathered in one place. Reading further from Acts of the Apostles 2: 1-12, we would see that the believers were gathered together in one place when they saw what appeared like a strong wind blowing and it entered where they were sitting. Suddenly they heard a loud noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each of them there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, a gift promised by their Master, and they began to talk in other languages, as the spirit had enabled them to speak. By that time there were Jews living in Jerusalem, religious people who had come from every country of the world. When they heard this noise, a large crowd gathered. They were all excited, because each one of them heard the believers speaking in his or her own language. In amazement and wonder they exclaimed, "These people who are talking like this are Galileans! How is it then, that we all of us hear them speaking in his or her own languages? We are from Parthia, Medas, and Elam, from Mesopotamea, Judea and Cappadocia, from Pontus and Asia, from Phrygia and Pamphylia, from Egypt and the region of Libya near Cyrene. Some of are from Rome, both Jews and Gentile converted to Judaism, and some of us are from Crete and Arabia - yet all of us hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things that God has done. In amazement and confused they kept asking each other, "What does this mean?"

After all these, on the fiftieth day after His burial and just ten days after His Ascension, Jesus in fulfilling his promise of sending them His gift, the apostles were gathered in one place. Reading further from Acts of the Apostles 2: 1-12, we would see that the believers were gathered together in one place when they saw what appeared like a strong wind blowing and it entered where they were sitting. Suddenly they heard a loud noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each of them there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, a gift promised by their Master, and they began to talk in other languages, as the spirit had enabled them to speak. By that time there were Jews living in Jerusalem, religious people who had come from every country of the world. When they heard this noise, a large crowd gathered. They were all excited, because each one of them heard the believers speaking in his or her own language. In amazement and wonder they exclaimed, "These people who are talking like this are Galileans! How is it then, that we all of us hear them speaking in his or her own languages? We are from Parthia, Medas, and Elam, from Mesopotamea, Judea and Cappadocia, from Pontus and Asia, from Phrygia and Pamphylia, from Egypt and the region of Libya near Cyrene. Some of are from Rome, both Jews and Gentile converted to Judaism, and some of us are from Crete and Arabia - yet all of us hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things that God has done. In amazement and confused they kept asking each other, "What does this mean?"

Infact there was fear of the unexpected among the believers in the Upper Room where they were gathered to pray as they waited. The tongues of fire that rested on them was a surprise to many of them but when they were able to speak different languages they realized that they were being prepared for a mission and that mission was to spread the word of God. And indeed they reached to the ends of the earth.

In commemoration of this day, Catholic Church will on this Sunday baptise, confirm or receive the First Holy Communion. The later is for children who are entering into the Catholic life with preparedness to receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus Himself who would be guided by their parents until they grow. This is the Domestic Church. Sooner or later churches would be inviting their friends for celebrate the reception of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

In commemoration of this day, Catholic Church will on this Sunday baptise, confirm or receive the First Holy Communion. The later is for children who are entering into the Catholic life with preparedness to receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus Himself who would be guided by their parents until they grow. This is the Domestic Church. Sooner or later churches would be inviting their friends for celebrate the reception of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

St. Therese's Catholic Church holds its First Communion and Confirmation on May 18, while the Stella Maris Parish of Bakau headed by Fr. Pious will have their on Sunday 11th May 2008 at 9:30. Cathedral and the Church of the Blessed Sacrament will hold theirs jointly on the Feast of Corpus Christi, 25th May 2008 at the Cathedral of our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral to be celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Sarr of Dakar. Other churches celebrate their too. For the Catholic it is a great day of joy as they either receive the Holy Spirit or they receive the Blessed Sacrament.

Those who receive their sacrament of confirmation are now ready to choose according to the Holy Spirit organizations in the church that they can be part of as the spirit sends them. Many go to the choir, lectors, Mass Servers, ushers and many go to become either priests, Brothers or Sisters to continue the mission of Christ to go to the whole world and preach the Good News, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen!

Those who receive their sacrament of confirmation are now ready to choose according to the Holy Spirit organizations in the church that they can be part of as the spirit sends them. Many go to the choir, lectors, Mass Servers, ushers and many go to become either priests, Brothers or Sisters to continue the mission of Christ to go to the whole world and preach the Good News, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen!