Nigerians and the human race in general have been urged to be united and see one another as fellow humans, made in the image and likeness of God, no matter where they may come from. The charge was given by Very Rev. Fr. Augustine Nwodo, Provincial Superior, Holy Ghost Fathers, South West Province, Nigeria, while delivering the homily during the Pentecost celebration, last Sunday, at Ss. Mulumba and David Catholic Church, Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos. Stating that all humans are one in the body of Christ, Fr. Nwodo said one of the most important things that Pentecost does is that it brings all peoples, nationalities and languages under one universal family; the Church. According to him, Pentecost is the beginning of spiritual harvest, as he added that the Apostles received this gift and were able to come out in the open to speak and bring people to Christ. He said the Spirit of God came because Jesus has commissioned His Apostles to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations. He added that Jesus knew they (Apostles) would not be able to do this unless they received the power of the Holy Spirit. He said: “Jesus asked them to wait for the power. When the power came, it was a transformative agent. And it’s what we experience every Pentecost. As disciples of Jesus, we are the ones who are carrying the good news of life, as long as we receive power.
“In the face of the persecutions, Peter and other disciples of Jesus remained firm and steadfast because they received power. The same Peter who denied Jesus was transformed to the Peter who defends Jesus.” On the significance of the celebration, he said: “The Spirit of God comes to us in a way special to embolden us to come out to bear witness in our small places, no matter how interior, no matter how infinitesimal, no matter how inconsequential it might be. Fr. Nwodo said from the history of creation, God continues to call man to himself, even after man disobeyed Him and always forgiving, bringing man out of problems, providing for his needs. He said the beginning of wisdom and realisation of true religion and relationship with God lies on man’s readiness to allow God to take the lead, adding that unfortunately, people misuse the gift that God gives them. Rev. Fr. Andrew Edogbo, parish Priest, Ss. Mulumba and David Catholic Church, thanked God for 320 years anniversary of the Holy Ghost Fathers and the existence of the Holy Spirit in the congregation.
Urging the people to make themselves available to God, he said that anyone that does not have a touch of the Holy Spirit is empty. “We see the newness of the Holy Spirit in the Holy Ghost Fathers, and that is why we are moving and moving higher every day. There is no part of the world that Holy Ghost Fathers are not working. We are spread all over the world. We thank God for giving us this opportunity to celebrate today”, he said. Highpoints of the ceremony included thanksgiving by the Holy Ghost Fathers, Holy Ghost Missionary Movement, Holy Ghost Society and Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria.
