THE GREAT SOUND OF PENTECOST

 THE GREAT SOUND OF PENTECOST
Meditation for the Solemnity of Pentecost
(Acts 2:1-11; 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13; Jn 20:19-23)

As we meditate on the Pentecost event, we turn our attention to the great sound and energy that announced the descent of the Holy Spirit. It was a sudden sound, like the rush of a mighty wind; an overshadowing sound that leaves its imprint on all that it touches. The Holy Spirit came with so great a sound, yet, so gentle like the sound of silence! A tongue of fire appeared on each of the apostles; a fire blazing but not burnt up (Ex 3:2). These symbols indicate that the break forth of the Holy Spirit had to overcome certain barriers so as to make His abode in human nature.

 

Maybe the mode of His descending will help us understand deeply how far heaven can be from earth without the Holy Spirit; man would have been totally ‘locked up’ in himself, and salvation of Christ would have been available to the few people who can access it and remember it! Fear and emotional instability would dominate the actions of people. It is almost an unimaginable life without the Holy Spirit. The force and energy that shattered these barriers and brought us this far is worthy of our meditation.

 

So, in listening to the sound of silence, the sound of meditation, we perceive the sound of the movement of the Spirit, and appreciate that transforming power that saves us. The great sound, like a mighty wind and the burning fire, demonstrates clearly that overcoming power of God, the unstoppable movement of the Holy Spirit, which renews the face of the earth and restores man’s friendship with His creator. The gifts of the Holy Spirit (Is 11:2-3; 1 Cor 12:7-10) and the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) indicate that the regeneration that the Spirit brings cannot be achieved by human power. In fact, they can only come about when the divine power overpowers human power.

 

As we listen to the great sound of Pentecost, we stand in awe at that power which can move man to speak in the tongue of his fellow man, to speak to the understanding of his neighbor. To speak the ‘language’ of another person implies to ‘reason’ with him, while communicating to him the truth, even divine truth. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth (Jn 16:13), can man communicate truth to one another with love, without violating his conscience or dignity. As we ‘drink of one Spirit’, we achieve such unity that accommodates variety, without destroying anyone’s individuality.

 

The great sound of Pentecost continues to vibrate in the Church today as we celebrate. The great anointing power of the Holy Spirit gently melts away the stubbornness of our hearts. The powerful rush of wind from on high refreshes our hearts like the new breath of life. Jesus breathed on His disciples and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” As we draw close to the life of Jesus, this Breathe continues to settle in us gently but powerfully transforming us into the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit brings to life in us the life of Jesus, His love, forgiveness and salvation. Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit will glorify me, since all He reveals to you will be taken from what is mine (Jn 16:14).

 

Therefore, in listening to the sound of the movement of the Holy Spirit in us, we discern how to open up our hearts and allow Him to inspire our actions. By so doing, the great sound of Pentecost becomes for us a rhythm of love and joy. A joy filled with peace, and a peace afire with love for God and neighbor. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday June 5^th, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

www.soundofsilence.ng

Solemnity of Pentecost.

VESSEL OF DIVINE VISITATION

Meditation for the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Zeph 3:14-18; Lk 1:39-56)

Today we celebrate the visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth. Coincidentally, this feast marks the end of our May devotion to Mary. Among many other biblical encounters, why did the Church craft out this particular event and turned it into a celebration?

 

The visitation of Mary to the house of Zachariah is a landmark encounter in the history of human salvation. It was not a coincidence, but part of God’s plan, and an important event that shines out the hidden mystery of Christ. After the Angel Gabriel explained to Mary how the Incarnation would come about through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, he gave a practical example to show that with God all things are possible. The Angel said, “Your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month” (Lk 1:36). Mary gave her fiat, saying, “You see before you the Lord’s servant, let it happen to me as you have said.” As the Angel left, Mary set out quickly to visit Elizabeth.

 

This visitation became a landmark demonstration of God’s power to make the incarnation possible, the God who does what human mind cannot comprehend. In the visitation to Elizabeth, we see Mary’s fiat in action; an immediate and quick response to God, with whom all things are possible. And this response of faith demonstrates her humility. God’s mighty power shines out on His faithful and lowly servants.

 

Mary stepped into Zachariah’s house full of grace, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, and as mother of Jesus. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” We see how Mary became a VESSEL through whom the blessings God bestowed on her reached Elizabeth and the baby in her womb. This visitation became a special moment of encounter in which Elizabeth became the first to recognize Mary as the mother of God. And John the Baptist had a divine touch in the womb his mother.

 

The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth was a unique and special event that is worthy of celebration. We cannot forget nor allow such a great mystery of salvation to pass us by. It highlights the first response of humanity to the mystery of the Incarnation. We see here how God, who came to dwell among us, dissolves the graces of our salvation even through those who believe in the fulfilment of God’s promises.

 

Therefore, Mary steps in as Spiritual Vessel, Vessel of honor, singular vessel of devotion and vessel of joy! The echo of her Magnificat continues to resound in our hearts, and adorn our celebration today. Her visitation becomes an acclamation that God can do all things. He can exalt the lowly, fill the hungry with good things and show mercy to all generations forever. In our celebration, we recognize the special favor God has bestowed on Mary, and honor her. She said, “Henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” In this feast, we express our desire for divine visitation in our lives, families, nation, and the world at large. Therefore, let us continue to invoke Mary’s Perpetual Help, for she is that special Vessel through which we can have divine visitation. Amen.  

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Tuesday May 31^st, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

www.soundofsilence.ng

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Heaven is the Goal

 Heaven is the Goal
Meditation for the Seventh Sunday of Easter
(Acts 7:55-60; Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20; Jn 17:20-26)

Do people still have their two eyes closed in prayer, in contemplation of divine mysteries and the glory of God? Modern man has eaten the fruit of knowledge, the only issue is that we know less about the mysteries of God. Many people that flood church programs have their one closed in prayer, and the other eye opened to see miracles or quick solutions for their problems. When this miracle is not forthcoming, despair sets in, and some people may abandon their faith or become aloof to spiritual matters. When religion is reduced to only solving human problems, it becomes a problem unto itself. In other words, if heaven is not the goal of worship, even prayer will appear to be part of our problem too.

 

The first reading of today says, “Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” Think about a committed religious man like Stephen, over whom heaven opened to directly at his most difficult moment, yet, his enemies cut short his life! It seems his prayers did not attend to his immediate human needs at that time. At least, that is how it appears if we look at his practice of faith from the point of view of problem-solving. But Stephen himself understood that heaven is the goal! This he demonstrated by commending his soul to Jesus, and asking for forgiveness for his persecutors.

 

With his eyes gazed into heaven, and by seeing Jesus, Stephen took the particular posture that ought to characterize Christian worship and exercise of faith. The eyes that are opened to heaven should be closed to earthly life! Then the heavenly light gives vision and life to man here below. That is why the vision of John in the second reading saw Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, the Bright morning star. In his hands is the solution and answer to our prayers here below, for He says, “Let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price.” Heaven remains the ultimate answer to our every prayer; heaven is the goal!

 

Therefore, in His farewell message, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and prayed for His disciples and for all the faithful who would believe through their preaching.  He said, “That they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Jesus prayed that the unity of the Trinity be lived out in the unity of believers. And believers can only replicate this divine unity by lifting up the eyes of their faith to heaven. With such uplifted heart and mind into the divine glory, believers can worship God for His own sake, and view their earthly affairs with the vision of heaven. In this way, they can have a COMMON VISION despite their differences and variety of activities.

 

Thus, if heaven is the goal of our worship and action, it gives all believers a common vision of life, which gives birth to unity among believers. But there is so much disunity among Christian families and church communities today. This is a sign that we have other hidden visions of life apart from those inspired by heaven. It shows that not all who claim to believe have their eyes gazed to heaven as their goal. Still, the desire of Jesus for all believers is for them to be with Him in Heaven, to behold His glory. Let us meditate on this awesome desire of Jesus for us, and mingle it with our human desires! Then, His love and unity will shine out in us, in our families and society. Jesus says, “O righteous Father…that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday May 29^th, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

www.soundofsilence.ng

 

Ascension Ground

 

THE ASCENSION GROUND

 THE ASCENSION GROUND

Meditation for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Year C

(Acts 1:1-11; Heb 9:24-28, 10:19-23; Lk 24:46-53)

Within forty days after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples, ate and drank with them, and familiarized with them. He strengthened their faith in the resurrection, prepared them for the mission ahead, and taught them to await the coming of the Holy Spirit. His final apparition ends with the irreversible entry of His humanity into divine glory in the presence of His disciples. The disciples gazed in wonder as their Master ascended above. They were given the opportunity to witness this glorious moment so that they would believe and bear witness.

 

In our meditation, we raise up the eyes of our faith in union with the apostles to where our Master is seated in glory. Today, we stand with the apostles on the Ascension ground, with our hearts and minds gazing into the clouds of glory. As He goes, we remember His words to Nicodemus, “No one has gone up to Heaven except the one who came down from Heaven, the Son of man” (Jn 3:13). So, His Ascension explains His origin. His lifting up on the cross is now completed by his lifting up into Heaven. The bodily ascension of Jesus gives humanity a ‘space’ in God; Christ goes ahead to prepared a room for us in His Father’s house (Jn 14:2).

 

From the Ascension ground, we gaze with the apostles into the highest heavens, as Jesus, who offered Himself to the Father for us, is now dwelling in perfect glory with the Father. As the second reading says, the sanctuary where our prayer is answered, has become the dwelling place of the High Priest, through whom our prayer is offered. Therefore, Jesus’ bodily Ascension has become our assurance in sharing in the one eternal sacrifice in the Eucharist. Thus, our gaze in faith from the ascension ground is given life in our eucharistic gaze at the elevation of the bread and wine.

 

Though He ascended, Jesus did not separate from His disciples. His ascension becomes His elevation; He is still present among His believers through the Holy Spirit, who animates the believers in the words of Jesus. So, our gaze of faith in the celebration of the Ascension becomes our living experience, since our thoughts are inspired by the Holy Spirit, and our actions are powered by the words of Jesus. In this way, our daily lives silently await the fulfillment of the message of the angel to the apostles on the Ascension ground, saying, “This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.”

 

It is as if every day we are standing on the Ascension ground as our words and actions reflect the divine presence of Jesus, and at the same time, they are filled with hope in His second coming. As the apostles were filled with joy at the good news of the Ascension, so do our worship and adoration spark up our hearts with joy, consuming all our fears and worries, and energizing us to go forward and bear witness. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Thursday May 26^th, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.

Discerning Spirit

 

FOUNDATION OF LIFE

                                                             FOUNDATION OF LIFE

Meditation for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C

(Acts 16:11-15; Rev 21:10-14, 22-23; Jn 14:23-19)

What is the foundation of your life? What is the principle from which you draw inspiration to act? We all have a certain backup plan, which silently gives us certain moral, mental or emotional courage to push forward. Ordinarily, it is expected that one’s faith should be his source of inspiration and the foundation of his existence. Often times, wrong approaches to faith and inordinate human desires tend to land us on false foundations of life. Moments of tribulation expose the hidden foundations of our life, and test their durability and authenticity. People of this generation seem to be in a hurry to achieve success and greatness, such that they do not create time to build capacity and enduring foundation for their lives and wellbeing. Jesus said that a foundation not laid on the rock collapses (Lk 6:47-49).

 

As part of His farewell message, Jesus prepares a solid foundation for His disciples. In today’s gospel reading, He anchored their hearts and minds on love, the Holy Spirit and peace. He says, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” That means, Jesus is always present to those who love Him. And those who make this love the foundation of their lives will always stand secure in Christ. To make the love of Jesus the foundation of our lives is to put His words to action. We see this love in action in the first reading, as the apostles removed unnecessary burdens from the Gentile believers, and allowed them to maintain their unique identity.

 

Another foundation Jesus laid for us is the gift of the Holy Spirit. He said, “But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” The departure of Jesus would not create a vacuum because of the coming of the Holy Spirit. He will become the living memory of believers, prompting and inspiring them to live out the words of Jesus. This inseparable bond between the Church and the Holy Spirit is a principle of life for every believer. Addressing the Gentiles about the issue of circumcision, the apostles said, “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.”

Thirdly, He gave them the gift of peace, saying, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” The life and ministry of believers must be rooted in the peace of Christ. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7). In the first reading, we see how the apostles quickly resolved the misunderstanding about circumcision, and restored peace. This action is a clear indication that Jesus laid for them a solid foundation of peace. A religion with a violent foundation will always promote violence! The peace of Christ is rooted in the heart, and it germinates with the life of believers.

Jesus says, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” The body of Christ, the foundation of our lives is laid on a solid rock. Meditate on the city of God, the new Jerusalem described in the vision of John in the second reading. This heavenly city is filled with the glory of God, radiant like rare jewel and clear as crystal. It is well protected with a high wall, with twelve gates and twelve angels. “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” The Lord Himself was the temple of that city, and the glory of God was the only light that brightened the place. This vision of the new Jerusalem captures the life of a believer, who laid the foundation of his life in Christ Jesus, and walks in the Holy Spirit. He will have no cause of shame, and he will overcome every fear. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Sunday May 22, 2022.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com