From the Pastor: Fr. Justus Alaeto
Pentecost Sunday Reflection
Happy Pentecost! Today, we celebrate the Pentecost, the fulfillment of Christ’s promises of His constant’s presence and guidance through the action of the Holy Spirit.
By the action of Pentecost today, the Church was spiritually, inaugurated. God breaths His very life into the Church, just as God breathed life to Adam and Eve, in the creation account (in the book of Genesis), and as Jesus Christ Himself, breathed life to His Disciples today and says; “Receive the Holy Spirit”
By that action breathing the Spirit, Jesus has imparted “Supernatural Power” or “Divine Power” in the life of the Church. We are to therefore, draw life from the life of the Church, and from the teachings of the Church, which is the life of Christ.
Another Important message about today, is that Pentecost reminds us that We do not have life if we do not have the Holy Spirit in us. We can never claim to be living an acceptable holy life, or claiming to be good Christians or good Catholic, if we do not live like people who have received the Holy Spirit.  To be a good practicing Catholic, is not only about attending Mass regularly, but mostly about attending Mass and Sacrament regularly, and at the same time, making effort to demonstrate the life of the Spirit in you.
That could be reason for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit must be seen in the life of a good practicing Catholic. The Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit in us, demonstrates ways in which we are most able to imitate Jesus, and become like Jesus Christ in everything.
One of the most convincing ways, that draws people’s attention easily to Jesus’ identity as Messiah, was that people saw in Jesus those spiritual virtues the prophet foretold that would be seen in Redeemer’s life, namely;  Wisdom and Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. They are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Having the gifts of the Holy Spirit is not about being smart. It is more than being smart.  It is about possessing the wisdom and good knowledge about God. Wisdom that would enables us know God well and discern the mind of God clearly in everything we do or say. Again, we might claim to know God, but always get the ways of God very wrong. It is a challenge in trying to live out our Christian virtues faithfully. In that way, we still need the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and constant heart to heart prayer with Jesus the Savior.
Another message about the celebration of Pentecost, is that Pentecost is calling us to open our heart to the action of the Holy Spirit. Whenever we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, we never remain the same in our human attitude. We rather, start becoming truly transformed, and open to work with the Lord. Some spiritual growth in my life, needs to bear witness that I truly received or encountered the Holy Spirit in prayer or at Mass. St. Peter , was afraid to confess Christ at some point in his life, but after receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost day, St. Peter became strong follower, who, proclaimed Jesus boldly to all people. That is transformation there! St. Paul in Galatians 5:16 says; “Let the Spirit directs your loves, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature.”
When the Holy Spirit is in our lives, it produces,  love, joy, peace, patient, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. All these fruits must be seen in the life of a true practicing Catholic
My brothers and sister’s in Christ, may we today, gather around the cenacle of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who prayed with the Apostles, and the Holy Spirit to came down upon their lives and the life of the Church. so that Our Blessed Mother, will help us see where our individual lives, still need New Pentecost to Happen. To help us to see where God desires us to change, so that we shall start experiencing new conversion, new joy, healing, and be able to bear true witness to the Gospel of Christ.