COMMISSIONED: TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH | By Sr. Theresa Ujunwa Nwali (SJGS)

Introduction:

The concept of being "commissioned to the ends of the earth" is deeply rooted in the teachings of Christianity, particularly in the Catholic tradition. This divine commission, given by Jesus Christ to his disciples, calls upon believers to spread the Gospel message to all nations and to engage in the work of evangelization. In this reflection, we will explore the theological significance and practical implications of this commission, delving into scriptural foundations, historical context, and the ongoing mission of the Church today. The biblical foundation is to help us know the solidity of our reflection, historical context aid in maintaining the tradition of handed to our fathers and to us as well. The ongoing mission throws is light on the continuity of messiahs work. 

1. BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS:

The primary scriptural reference for the commission to the ends of the earth can be found in Matthew's Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." This Great Commission is seen as Jesus' final instruction to his apostles before ascending into heaven. This mandate, often referred to as the Great Commission, is a call to action for all followers of Jesus Christ. It is a command to go out into the world and share the Good News of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The mission mandate is threefold: to go, to make disciples, and to teach.

1.  THE COMMAND TO GO: implies a sense of urgency and movement. Jesus is not calling his disciples to stay in one place, but to move out into the world, crossing cultural and geographical boundaries to share the Gospel. This going is not limited to physical movement, but also includes spiritual and social movement, as disciples are called to engage with their communities and share the love of Christ.

2.   THE COMMAND TO MAKE DISCIPLES: implies a process of transformation andgrowth. Discipleship is not simply about converting people to Christianity, but about helping them grow in their faith and become more like Jesus. This involves teaching, mentoring, and guiding people as they learn to follow Jesus and live out their faith in everyday life.

1.3  THE COMMAND TO TEACH: implies a responsibility to pass on the teachings of Jesus and help new disciples understand the principles of Christian living. This teaching is not limited to doctrine and theology, but also includes practical instruction on how to live a life of love, compassion, and service.

Additionally, in the book of Acts, Jesus affirms the apostles as witnesses to spread the Gospel throughout the world: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). This passage implies that the fulfillment of the commission requires the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

0.2  HISTORICAL CONTEXT:

The early Christian community embraced the call to mission, expanding the faith to various regions and cultures. The Apostle Paul is often recognized as a prominent figure in the execution of the commission, as he embarked on multiple missionary journeys to spread the Gospel in Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome. Later, as Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, missionaries and monks ventured further afield, establishing Christian communities as far as Africa, Asia, and Europe.

The Catholic Church played a crucial role in fostering missionary activities, especially through the formation of religious orders dedicated to evangelization. The Jesuits, for instance, notable for their missionary zeal, were instrumental in bringing Christianity to various corners of the globe during the age of discoveries.

0.3.  THE ONGOING MISSION OF THE CHURCH:

The commission to the ends of the earth is not limited to the early apostles or missionaries from centuries past. Rather, it remains an imperative for the Church today. Pope Francis, in his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, emphasizes the essential nature of the Church's missionary vocation: "Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus."(Evangelii Gaudium, 120).

In contemporary society, the call to the ends of the earth extends beyond exclusively geographical boundaries. It also encompasses reaching out to people on the margins, those who are spiritually, emotionally, or physically distant from the love and grace of God. The Church is called to stand in solidarity with the poor, the oppressed, and all those in need, addressing the social, economic, and political factors that hinder their access to the Gospel.

Conclusion

The commission of Jesus Christ is that of service and self-devotion. Saint Luigi Guanella will always say that “the whole world is our homeland” which literally means that we are called to be the salt of the earth in proclaiming the divine word. The proclamation of the word should know no boundary as Jesus commissioned us to. In résumé, we are the custodian of the word and we should always learn to take it to where faith as brought us even if it will cost us our lives, we can happily give the account of mission just as the Martyrs of Rome did during the persecution of Emperor Nero 

THE HOLY SPIRIT | BY OMETA MARCELENIUS M. KOSI.

Introduction 

A week tomorrow we started novena to the Holy Spirit expecting to be renew or revive with it this Sunday being Pentecost Sunday.

We rarely talk about the Holy Spirit or pray to the Holy Spirit unless we are in the Pentecost week like we are now and after Pentecost Sunday no more till next year except some of the priest or charismatic group who devoted themselves to the Holy Spirit. We have votive mass of the Holy Spirit though but our priests rarely says it, I don't know about your parish or priest.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity in Christian theology, along with God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son. He is often referred to as the Comforter, Counselor, Friend or Advocate.

The Person or identity of the Holy Spirit remains mysterious, thereby difficult to understand. In the Bible, many symbols and images are used to describe the Holy Spirit which are as follows: wind, fire, cloud, water, oil, breath and light. All these explains why some think of the Holy Spirit as a powerful influence available for our use at various occasions, or a power we plug into when we are in need or more still, a power we invoke against our enemies. For example, "Holy Ghost...! Fire!" has become a popular slogan used to destroy one's enemies. But the Holy Spirit is not a mere power and not a negative force or weapon to destroy our enemies rather the Holy Spirit enkindle in us the fire of love.

In the Credo we do recite every Sunday in mass we pray, " I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets " showing that the Holy Spirit has an identity, he is a person like the Father and the Son. Like them He is worshipped and glorified.

Here are some key aspects of the Holy Spirit:

Divine Nature: The Holy Spirit is fully God, sharing the same essence and attributes as the Father and Son.

Roles: He convicts people of sin, regenerates believers, and empowers them to live a godly life. He also guides, teaches, and comforts Christians.

Gifts: The Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to believers, such as speaking in tongues, healing, and prophecy (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

Fruits: He produces fruit in believers' lives, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and humility (Galatians 5:22-23).

Baptism: The Holy Spirit baptizes believers into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Sealing: He seals believers, guaranteeing their salvation and eternal life (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Intercession: The Holy Spirit intercedes on behalf of believers, praying to the Father (Romans 8:26-27).

Omniscience: The Holy Spirit has complete knowledge and understanding, guiding believers in truth (John 16:13).

Omnipresence: He is present everywhere, convicting and comforting people across the world.

Eternal: The Holy Spirit has always existed and will always exist, being an integral part of the Trinity.

In Christian belief, the Holy Spirit plays a vital role in the life of a believer, enabling them to live a life pleasing to God and empowering them for service and witness.

In conclusion, I will like to end with the summary of Most. Rev. Dr. Valerian Okeke Archbishop of Onitsha on his Pastoral Letter 2022, titled: The Holy Spirit Mans Helper and Friend. "There is no human on earth whose friendship can compare with that of the Holy Spirit. He understands us, He is the Spirit of God who knows and sees every part of us. He is a faithful friend who loves us in spite of our inadequacies. He looks at us in the light of the blood of Jesus. He knows who we are as the redeemed children of God. He therefore defends us as our advocate, gives us his gifts and sustains us with His fruits".

Thank you all for having me here this night.

May the Holy Spirit flourish us with His gifts and sustains us with His fruits in abundance. Amen Blissful night rest brethren.

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE SACRAMENTS | BY ANOSIKE PATRICKMARY

 INTRODUCTION 

The Holy Spirit is the Temple of the Church. He is the soul of the Body of Christ of which Jesus is the Head. The Holy Spirit gives life to the Church so it becomes the living Temple of the living God. (C.C.C. # 797)

The Holy Spirit is involved in every step of the development and growth of the universal Church. He is the saving power that builds up the Church. He is faithfully found in the Word, in Baptism, in the sacraments, in the grace of God, in the gifts and in the virtues. Nothing happens in the Church without the direct involvement of the Holy Spirit. (C.C.C. # 798)

The Holy Spirit directs and supports all the affairs of the Church. He is responsible for inspiring the organization of the clergy according to their rank and authority. He blesses each member of the Church with the necessary charismatic gifts to fulfill his function as he has been called by the grace of God to proclaim and establish the Church, the Kingdom of Christ and of God. (C.C.C. # 768)

Through all these functions, the Holy Spirit sanctifies the Church for the glory of Christ so it may be pleasing to the Heavenly Father. (C.C.C. # 747)

The point is that the Holy Spirit gives us the Church and she, in turn, gives us the sacraments. St. Augustine taught us, "what the soul is to man's body, the Holy Spirit is to the Body of Christ, which is the Church. The Holy Spirit does in the whole Church what the soul does in the members of the one body.

"The Spirit came to finish in us, what Christ had finished in Himself, but left unfinished as regards us. To [the Spirit] it is committed to apply to us severally all that Christ had done for us. As a light placed in a room pours out its rays on all sides, so the presence of the Holy Ghost imbues us with life, strength, holiness, love, acceptableness, righteousness." And yet again, he says that Christ shines through His sacraments, "as through transparent bodies, without impediment, . . . effluences of His grace developing themselves in external forms. . . . Once for all He hung upon the cross, and blood and water issued from His pierced side, but by the Spirit's ministration, the blood and water are ever flowing." 

Wind, fire, thunder, and lightning. The Sacred Scriptures are replete with instances of divine Revelation accompanied by these awe-inspiring phenomena in nature. The Book of Genesis tells us that "a mighty wind swept over the waters" (Gen. 1:2) at the dawn of time; in the Book of Exodus, we learn how God gave the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai with thunder and lightning as the communicators of His will and Word (cf. Ex. 19).

But less fearsome signs have also been used by the Almighty as we recall how the gentle breath of God brought Adam to life (cf. Gen. 2:7) and how the breath of Jesus on the apostles gave them the ability to restore to life those who were spiritually dead through sin (cf. Jn. 20:22). All of these events are connected to God's self-manifestation or, even better, His self-communication to the human race and, most especially, to His chosen people.

LET'S LOOK AT HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT ACTS IN EACH OF THE SACRAMENTS 

BAPTISM

we receive the Holy Spirit at baptism and are thereby made adopted sons and daughters of God (Catechism 1265). On the day of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church (CCC 1076), St. Peter tells his fellow Jews to “repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Likewise, Paul says elsewhere that baptism is “the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5

CONFIRMATION

In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is"sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ.Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world. . . . We receive the message of faith in a deeper and more intensive manner with great emphasis given to the person of Jesus Christ, who asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Church for building up the community in loving service.

PENANCE AND ANOINTING OF THE SICK

In the Sacrament of Reconciliation (or Penance), the connection with the Holy Spirit is established through the power of the word of Christ after His Resurrection." He likewise observes that these same post-resurrectional words "can also refer to the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick."

By God's design, it is the priest's vocation to heal wounds, renew strength, and "wash the stains of guilt away." That almost incredible power was given to the apostles and their successors on Easter night, when Our Blessed Lord linked for all time the possession of genuine peace to the forgiveness of sins. Modern man has lost his sense of sin which, of course, explains why he has also lost the key to full and lasting peace. Priests must remind the world that sin exists, not in the fashion of a dreary and depressing Cassandra, but with an attitude of joy and enthusiasm.

The work of absolution is accomplished in Baptism, Penance, and the Anointing of the Sick. This paves the way for any other sacramental encounters which increase the divine life within. Once the roadblock of sin is removed, then the process of divinization can begin and only then.

MARRIAGE

Regarding Holy Matrimony, Pope John Paul observes:

"This sacrament is the human participation in that divine love which has been 'poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit' (Rom. 5:5). According to St. Augustine, the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity in God is the 'consubstantial communion' [communio consubstantialis] of the Father and the Son. Through the Sacrament of Matrimony, the Spirit forms 'communion of persons' between a man and woman." 

EUCHARIST

The Pentecost observed by the apostolic community was a major feast of covenant renewal, that act of God which made Israel His chosen people. Each time the Church gathers to celebrate the Eucharistic sacrifice, she engages in a similar ceremony of covenant renewal, and the same Spirit which hovered over the waters of the abyss bringing creation from chaos, the same Spirit which hovered over the Blessed Virgin Mary making her the Mother of the Messiah that same Spirit hovers over the elements of bread and wine, transforming them into the Lord's Body and Blood which saved the world 2000 years ago and makes present that invitation to salvation day in and day out, until He "comes in glory."

Hence, it is possible to say that every time the sacrifice of Calvary is sacramentally renewed, a little Pentecost occurs.

"Christian Tradition is aware of this bond between the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit which was expressed, and still is today, during the Mass when, in the epiclesis the Church requests the sanctification of the gifts offered upon the altar. . . . The Church emphasizes the mysterious power of the Holy Spirit for the completion of the Eucharistic consecration, for the sacramental transformation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, and for the communication of grace to those who participate in it and to the entire Christian community

HOLY ODERS

By the plan of Providence, it is the priest who imparts, through Word and Sacrament, this "divine sense of human life." Priests, by the mysterious workings of grace, are called to "shed a ray of light divine." It is particular privilege to be "the Father of the poor," not merely to those economically disadvantaged but even more to those who are spiritually malnourished and who cry out for the food of the truth of Christ.

By standing at the altar and saying the awesome words of Christ at the Last Supper, Priests give the Lord's people access to "sweet refreshment here below," which is a foretaste of the "rest most sweet; grateful coolness in the heat; solace in the midst of woe," all of which anticipates the glory of the liturgy of heaven. It is Priestly responsibility to teach all who would listen that where God's Holy Spirit is not present, "man has nothing good in deed or thought, nothing free from taint of ill."

As we gain a deeper appreciation of the Church's sacramental life, we discover in all these encounters the gentle but powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. Newman had it exactly right when he referred to the sacraments as "the embodied forms of the Spirit of Christ," which "persuade" by their "tenderness and mysteriousness." 

CONCLUSION 

This is why Pope John Paul can urge what he calls "a sacramental practice which is ever more consciously docile and faithful to the Holy Spirit who, especially through the 'means of salvation instituted by Jesus Christ,' brings to fulfillment the mission entrusted to the Church to work for universal redemption." 

St. Basil said it best when he wrote: "Creatures do not have any gift on their own; all good comes from the Holy Spirit."

Permit me to conclude, then, with the beautiful prayer of the Byzantine liturgy of Pentecost which, I believe, sums up the goal of this presentation:

Heavenly King, Consoler, Spirit of Truth, present in all places and filling all things, Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life: Come and dwell in us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O Good One! Amen

We have come to the en

d of today's reflection. Good night ❤️

The Church as the Body of Christ by Onuoha Simon Gerard, SC

Introduction 

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul referred to the church as the body of Christ. He used this metaphor to relay significant truths about the church and to help believers better understand the value of diversity within the church.

Paul wrote this to the church of Corinth: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many”

The church is called the body of Christ because Christ is the head of the church and we are called to do the work of Christ, each like members of a body. We have different skills, purposes, and spiritual gifts, yet every believer is equally important to the full functioning, mission, and efficacy of the church.l

1.0 Christ as the head of the church.

All parts of the body are very important and when one part suffers, other parts suffers as well, but in this equality, we have the head which happens to be above other parts, the head contains the eyes, which helps us to see, and God being the head of the church sees all things and ever ready to speak to us through his prophets. The head happens to be the brain box that sends signal to every other part of the body in communication of what the body desire at a particular moment.

 Christ being the head of the church, has delegated his powers as the head of the body, the church to the clergy and we the members of this same body are ought to follow the direction of the head delegated to us. When we obey those placed over us, it is important to note that we obey Christ himself.  

2.0 unity of the body 

When we talk about the unity in Christ we talk as well the two keys of unity which is ; humility. Phillipian 2

3.0 disunity among Christians 

There is one body,” (Eph. 4:4) Imagine one head, but two bodies. Two bodies who disagree over the direction the head is revealing to go and in which way it is leading them. One body pulling south and the other body pulling north. The result is embarrassing. Counterproductive. Pointless. Directionless. Such is the church who is divided. The Head (Jesus Christ – see 1:22) reveals direction through the hierarchy of leadership He has called into position. When parts of the body refuse to follow the revealed direction of the Head, the result is always catastrophic.

4.0 Do not give the devil the opportunity to destroy the body of Christ 

As we pursue unity, there are many things that will labor against that pursuit. Satan is the accuser of the brethren, he sows discord, and does all that he can to make sure that churches divide because a divided kingdom cannot stand (Matt. 12:25-26). So when we see the seeds of division starting to appear, we need to see this as a spiritual warfare issue. We do not fight each other, our battle is against Satan and his forces (Eph. 6:12). In light of that, we need to be sober-minded and alert, ready to see the ways in which he may seek to destroy the unity we are called to experience and display.

First, Satan uses distraction. He distracts us with the busyness of life so that we miss opportunities to love and support the body. Second, he uses deception. Satan will lie to us, planting evil thoughts in our heads about others, about the church, and even God. Third, he uses derision. Satan will condemn us, reminding us of our sin and making us discouraged so that we don’t serve others and get involved in the life of the church. Finally, he uses division. Satan will tempt us to idolize our own preferences (styles of worship, models of ministry, ways to evangelize, how often to do the Lord’s supper, etc.). It is crazy how small things like carpet colors have divided churches. These things kill churches and bring shame on the name of Christ.

This is why humility, love, service, and prayer are so often paired with calls to unity. If we are going to be a faithful display of God’s glory in the world, we need to pursue unity. There is great joy available for us in unity and great dangers in the lack of it. May we humbly, prayerfully, and resiliently fight for unity together and so picture the spiritual unity we already have secured for us. For the glory of Christ alone.

5.0 The beauty of oneness. 

Oneness provides ways to imagine and achieve a more expansive conception of the self as fundamentally connected with other people, creatures, and things. Such views present profound challenges to Western hyper individualism and its excessive concern with self-interest and tendency toward self-centered behavior.