REPORTER: OBY ARINZE
Christians have been advised to allow the Holy Spirit guide their actions by promoting peace, forgiveness and love in order to foster unity in society.
A Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Philip Ibemere gave the advice in a homily during a Mass held at Stella Maris Catholic Church GRA Onitsha, Anambra State on the on the occasion of Pentecost Sunday.
Reverend Father Ibemere said Pentecost signifies the birth of the Church and the beginning of its mission to the world, noting that God united humanity through one universal language, which he described as the language of love.
Quoting from the Gospel of John 20 verse 19 to 23, the priest recalled how Jesus breathed on His disciples and bestowed on them the Holy Spirit, saying the gift of the Holy Spirit brings peace, reconciliation and forgiveness of sins.
He explained that the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, empowered the disciples to speak in different tongues as a sign of unity among all nations and peoples.
Reverend Father Ibemere noted that Christians, as light of the world, must not allow darkness to thrive through hatred, division and neglect of God’s will, stressing that the Holy Spirit enables believers to use their gifts for the benefit of humanity.
He further stated that the language of love, expressed through forgiveness and reconciliation, remains the true sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians and prayed for the Holy Spirit to continue guiding the faithful towards unity, peace and genuine love for one another irrespective of cultural and social differences.
Correspondent Oby Arinze reports that Pentecost is celebrated exactly fifty days after Easter.
