Jacob BABALOLA

“My brothers and sisters in Christ, today is Pentecost Sunday, today the Church celebrates the beginning of the Church, today ends the Easter Season, today is exactly 50 days after Easter. “Dear friends in Christ, it is on this day that the Holy Spirit came on all the Apostles and Mary and the Holy Spirit began its work in the Church through the Apostles up till today from 2000 years ago.

“Dear friends in Christ, let us pray that the Spirit of the Lord would fill our hearts, would fill the life of our families, would fill the heart and life of our Church, would fill the entire country, let us pray that this Spirit would be the driving force for our daily life through Christ our Lord.”

Above texts were the opening remarks of Rev. Fr. Justine Adeka, CSJ while celebrating Pentecost Sunday at St. Anne Catholic Church, Ogbere, Ibadan alongside the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Stephen Balogun on 8th June, 2025.

In his homily, Fr Adeka said the day’s readings wanted all to share our lives with others like the Apostles of Christ on whom the Holy Spirit descended as tongue of fire and were transformed into fiery preachers and became powerful witnesses for their faith.

According to the Superior of the Josephite Congregation, Ogbere Community, the Holy Spirit is powerful, the Bible was written through it, and interpretation of the Scripture and Sacraments we receive are possible only through the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit, the priest added reminds us of the foundation on which the Church is built, and that two Spiritual gifts are possible through the Holy Spirit: The gift of speaking in tongues which has given the Church problems; as a lot of people claimed they are gifted to speak in tongues and are causing division rather than unity.

      Secondly, the Holy Spirit is a gift of God and like the Gospel of Luke 11:18 presents it is a best gift that the Father will give to those who ask for it. “Jesus breathed upon the Apostles and says: ‘receive the Holy spirit,’ meaning it is a life giving gift.” He added that the Spirit lives by giving itself, that is, those who receive the gift must share their lives with others.

      The priest drew the attention of the congregation to the fact that people differ but that such should not be basis for competition but for mutual understanding and blessing; for whatever we have and are is a gift.

He enjoined the parishioners not to be sources of division because in the Church, the Holy Spirit does not cause confusion and that those that have gifts but refused to submit same to the Church means that their gifts are not from the Holy Spirit.

The priest also analyzed what the Holy Spirit is inviting Christians to as follow: To take control of our lives by constantly remembering its always present and behave well, asking of daily assistance to pray by listening to the Scripture, asking for the help of the Holy Spirit to do good for others every day, spurs us into good work, to the realization that the Holy Spirit helps the Apostles to preach; even in the presence of challenges and that language made possible by the Holy Spirit is the language of love; which is not restricted to any tribe or gathering. He therefore prayed that God’s Spirit continues to be alive in the Church, in our families and in our country.

The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Stephen Balogun appreciated the Chief Celebrant for accepting to celebrate the day’s Mass in the parish. He also invited the parishioners to join him in thanksgiving as he represented his other Class Mates for their 15th Priestly Ordination Anniversary just celebrated within the week that just passed.