Sunday Breakfast with the Word On the Feast of Pentecost 2026
Acts 2:1-11, 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13, John 20:19-23
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The Power of the Holy Spirit.
Today we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost, the day the Church was born in power. Pentecost is not just a remembrance of something that happened many years ago. It is a living invitation. It is God reminding us that Christianity cannot be lived by human strength alone. We need the Holy Spirit.
Without the Holy Spirit, we are nothing. Without the Holy Spirit, the Church is empty. The Holy Spirit is our power and strength. Without the Holy Spirit, our faith becomes weak.
The presence of the Holy Spirit is what makes prayers super effective. Prayer becomes dry without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the power of the Church, the Holy Spirit is who guides the Church, without the Holy Spirit, The Church becomes only an organization.
The Holy Spirit makes homilies so piercing to the heart, without the Holy Spirit, preaching becomes only human speech. Without the Holy Spirit, the Sacraments become empty rituals. But when the Holy Spirit comes, everything changes. Fear becomes courage, our confusion becomes understanding, weak men become witnesses, locked doors open.
Through the Holy Spirit, dry bones live again. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit, ordinary people begin to carry extraordinary grace.
That is why Pentecost is not just a feast of the past. It is the feast of divine power, divine presence, divine renewal, and divine mission.
Who Is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. He is a true God, together with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is not a force, not an object, not an emotion, not wind, not fire, and not a dove.
The Holy Spirit may appear through signs like wind, fire, breath, or a dove, but He is not those things. These are symbols that help us understand His presence and work.
A dove can symbolize peace and purity. Fire can symbolize purification and power. Wind can symbolize invisible divine movement. Breath can symbolize life. But the Holy Spirit Himself is a Person. This is very important.
We do not use the Holy Spirit like a tool. We do not control Him like magic. We do not treat Him like spiritual energy. We worship Him. We listen to Him. We obey Him. We are guided by Him.
The Holy Spirit has personal qualities. This means that He teaches, speaks, guides, comforts, sends, strengthens, warns, and sanctifies. Remember that Jesus said:
“The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything.” John 14:26.
So, only a person can teach. Only a person can guide. An object cannot do these. A dove cannot. When Paul says in Ephesians 4:30, do not grieve the Holy Spirit, we have to come to terms that only a person can be grieved.
Now the point I want to draw here is that if the Holy Spirit is a person, it simply means the Holy Spirit loves, cares, and desires a relationship with us.
The highest decision we can make as a christian is to develop this intimate and serious relationship with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Do you know that the name and the power of the Holy spirit did not start to manifest only during the New Testament? So many people think the Holy Spirit started working only in the New Testament. That is not true.
The Holy Spirit was already present from the beginning of creation. Now let us gradually analyse this in this homily. I remembered having such an argument with someone here in the country where I am working. Now let us go through the Old Testament to evaluate the presence, influence and power of the Holy spirit, in the lives of God’s people.
1.In the book of Genesis, the bible says “The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”
Genesis 1:2. This is telling us that even before creation, the Spirit of God was present.
Therefore, before there was order, the Spirit was there. Before God said let there be light, the Spirit was there. Before beauty came out of chaos, the Spirit was there.
This teaches us that God did not even create the World without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. And wherever the Holy Spirit comes, chaos begins to receive order. In His presence, darkness begins to receive light.
Therefore, when you experience confusion in your life, when you think you don’t have a clear guide to what you want to do, involve the power and presence of the Holy Spirit of God.
2. In the Old Testament too, we can see that the Holy Spirit came upon chosen patriarchs, especially those who have some special missions.
Do you know that in the book of Exodus, the Holy Spirit was revealed as a giver of wisdom and skill? The Spirit gave wisdom and skill. In Exodus 31:1-5, , Bezalel was filled with the Spirit of God to create sacred works for the tabernacle.
This shows that creativity, excellence, skill, and service can be gifts of the Holy Spirit. If you need any, ask for the help of the Holy Spirit.
3. In the book of Numbers 11:16-30 , Moses was guided by the Spirit, and when the burden became too heavy, God shared the Spirit given to Moses with the seventy elders so they could help him lead the people. This teaches us that if you are a leader, your number one friend should be the Holy Spirit.
4. In Judges 6:34, Gideon was weak and afraid, but when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, he became a deliverer of Israel. The records state that “Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon; and he blew a trumpet, and the Abiezrites were gathered after him.” In the times of fear and weakness, we need the presence of the Holy Spirit.
5. In Judges 14:1-19, Samson received supernatural strength when the Spirit came upon him. His strength was not ordinary human strength; it came from God. If you need Supernatural power and strength especially in the times of challenges, you need the Spirit of God.
Now let us make it categorical here. The secret of Sampson’s strength is not the hair. But the Holy Spirit. The Bible says in these places:
Judges 14:6: The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands.
Judges 14:19: The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, enabling him to strike down thirty men in Ashkelon.
Judges 15:14: The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him when the Philistines came to capture him, allowing him to snap the ropes on his arms as if they were burned flax and defeat an army using only a donkey’s jawbone.
While many associate his strength with his hair (which was only the symbol of his Nazirite vow to God), the true source was always the divine presence of the Holy Spirit. Whenever He wants to do something extraordinary, the Spirit of God will come upon Him.
6. In Ezekiel 37:1-14 ,Ezekiel saw dry bones come back to life when the breath of God entered them. That vision is one of the strongest images of what the Holy Spirit does: He brings life where everything seems dead. if everything seems dead in your life presently, you need the Holy Spirit.
7. In Isaiah, we hear the promise of the Spirit resting upon the Messiah: “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:2
This reveals the Holy Spirit as the One who brings wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, reverence, and holiness.
The Holy Spirit was also promised for all God’s people. Through the prophet Joel, God said: “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” Joel 2:28. This promise was fulfilled on Pentecost.
8. In Psalm 51:11, David pleads: “Cast me not away from your presence; take not your Holy Spirit from me.” He prayed this in deep repentance after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. David understands the Power of the Holy Spirit. He needs Him more than anything else.
We need the Holy Spirit. You need the Holy Spirit, if you want to transform your life. Remember that in 1 Samuel 16:14, the Bible states that the Spirit of the Lord departed from King Saul, and a distressing or evil spirit from the Lord began to torment him.
This spiritual abandonment occurred as a consequence of Saul’s repeated disobedience and rebellion against God’s commands and led to his downfall. Do you now understand the reason David is pleading that the Spirit of God does not depart?
The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus
Do you know that the Holy Spirit is behind the success of the Mission of Jesus and his miracles? The Holy Spirit is present throughout the life of Jesus.
At the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel said to the Blessed Virgin Mary when She was asking the angel, ‘How can this be done since I am a virgin” The angel answers “The Holy Spirit will come upon you.” Luke 1:35. First, this means that the incarnation of Jesus happened by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Word became flesh through the action of the Spirit. It also reveals to us that the Holy Spirit is the Doctor of Impossibility.
2. During the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus Christ like a dove. Again, the Spirit is not a dove, but He appeared in that form as a sign. After this, Jesus began His public ministry. The Holy Spirit is the secret of this empowerment. If you want to be spiritually empowered, you need the Holy Spirit.
3. In Luke 4:1, Jesus was “filled with the Holy Spirit” and led into the wilderness. This shows us that the Spirit does not only lead us to comfort; sometimes He leads us into spiritual battle so that we may overcome temptation. He led Jesus through all the temptations that came to Him. In Your spiritual battles, you need the Holy Spirit.
4. In Luke 4:18, Jesus says “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” This reveals that Jesus preached, healed, delivered, forgave, and restored under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Now understand this, If Our Lord Jesus, carried out His mission through the power of the Holy Spirit, how can we think we can live our Christian life without the Holy Spirit? It is impossible.
Pentecost: When Fear Became Fire.
I want you to read this subtopic again “ The Pentecost is the event that turned fear into fire” In the first reading, Acts 2:1-11, the disciples were gathered in one room. Remember that Jesus told them not to begin the mission until they received power from above.
After the ascension, they moved directly to the upper room. Then suddenly, there came a sound like a powerful wind from heaven on the feast of the Pentecost. Tongues of fire rested on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages as the Spirit enabled them.
After the experience of the tongues of fire, they become the fire, God used to change lives. This is very powerful.
3.Before the Pentecost, the disciples were afraid. After the Pentecost, they became totally bold. what happened? The fire was en kindled.
Remember also that before the Pentecost, Peter denied Jesus even before a servant girl. Then after the Pentecost, Peter stood before the crowds and proclaimed Jesus openly.
Do you also remember that before Pentecost, the disciples were hiding behind closed doors. After Pentecost, they went into the streets. Before Pentecost, they were confused. After Pentecost, they understood the mission. Before Pentecost, they were just ordinary men. But after Pentecost, they became witnesses who shook the world.
This is what the Holy Spirit does. He does not simply make us feel just religious, going only to spiritual activities, attending masses but your life remains the same, No. He will totally transform you.
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The Language of the Spirit
One of the most beautiful things that happened in today’s reading is that in the first reading, as the apostles speak in different languages, people from many nations heard the apostles speaking in their own languages.
Imagine the languages; Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Egypt, Libya, Rome, Cretans, and Arabs all heard the marvels of God in their own language.
Remember that this happened on the feast of the Pentecost , which is a feast of the Jews, they call it the feast of the harvest, the Shavuot, they celebrate it fifty days after the passover, so it was as people gathered to celebrate this feast, that the Holy Spirit came to them.
This shows how God wants to bring people to him, He made them speak in different languages so that people from different places can understand. This shows that the Holy Spirit breaks barriers. Sin divides us. Pride divides us. Hatred divides. Fear also divides. But the Holy Spirit unites.
At the Tower of Babel, human pride led to confusion of languages. At the Pentecost, the Holy Spirit brought understanding among different peoples. Babel scattered humanity, while the Pentecost gathered humanity. And the Church was born on this day. Happy Birthday to the Church.
Today, many families are divided. Many communities are divided. Many churches are divided. Many nations are divided. Even within ourselves, we are sometimes divided: we want God, but we also want sin; we desire holiness, but we are attracted to weakness. The solution is here.
We need the Holy Spirit because He is the Spirit of unity. Where the Holy Spirit is welcomed, people begin to understand one another. Forgiveness becomes possible. Peace becomes possible. Healing becomes possible.
The Gifts Are Different, But the Spirit Is One
In the second reading, Saint Paul tells us: “There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit.” This is very important for the Church and for every Christian community.
1.Let us understand this; Not everyone has the same gift. Quit being jealous of any person’s gift. You have yours. Find it and fan it into flame. We have a lot of gifts given to us. Some preach. Some teach. Some sing. Some serve quietly. Mine is to write. I love writing. I love writing inspiring reflections. This is the reason you are reading the Breakfast with the Word. Find yours and fan them into flame.
Even there is a gift given to us to encourage. Some gifts are also for organization. Some are given to organise. Some pray deeply. Some give generously. Some care for the sick. Some counsel the troubled. Some defend the truth. Some raise families in holiness.
Therefore, The Holy Spirit does not make everyone the same. He gives different gifts, but for one purpose: the gifts are for the good of all. They are not meant for your stomach only.
2. Saint Paul says: “The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose.” This means your gift is not for pride. Your gift is not for competition. Your gift is not for showing off. Your gift is for service.
A person filled with the Holy Spirit does not use gifts to dominate others. A person filled with the Holy Spirit uses gifts to build others.
That is why jealousy has no place in the life of the Spirit. If your brother has a gift, thank God. If your sister has a gift, thank God. If someone serves differently from you, thank God. We are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” The head cannot say to the feet, “I do not need you.” In the Church, everyone has a place. Everyone matters. Everyone has something to offer. The Holy Spirit turns diversity into unity.
The Holy Spirit and the Mission of Forgiveness
Finally, In the Gospel, John 20:19-23, the disciples were behind closed doors because of fear. Jesus came and stood among them. His first words were: “Peace be with you.”
Remember that these apostles all abandoned Him during his suffering. Remember what Peter did. Even James and John ran away. But at this time, Jesus did not begin by blaming them. He did not say, “Why did you abandon me?” He did not say, “Why did you run away?” He did not say, “Why were you afraid?” He said, “Peace be with you.” This is beautiful.
Then Jesus said: “As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.” After this, He breathed on them and said:“Receive the Holy Spirit.”
2.Before we proceed, let me take you back to the book of Genesis, when God breathed life into Adam. God created Him and gave him life through the Spiritual Breath. Now in the gospel, this was repeated for the Apostles. Are you understanding the scenario?
What Jesus does here is the same act of creation. So, in the Gospel, Jesus breathes new life into His disciples. This is a new creation. Therefore, the Holy Spirit makes us new. If you want your life to transform totally, you need the Holy Spirit of God.
3. In the gospel too, Jesus gives them the ministry of forgiveness. He says “For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.”
This shows one of the greatest gifts given to the priests today is through the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit does not only give them the power to preach. He gives them power to forgive.
We can also put it here that the spirit of forgiveness and peace is the Holy Spirit. He can restore our broken relationship, restores broken relationships between God and humanity.
He heals the wounds of sin. He brings mercy into the world. A person filled with the Holy Spirit cannot continue to enjoy hatred, revenge, bitterness, and unforgiveness. The Spirit of God pushes us toward mercy.
The Power of the Holy Spirit.
1.The power of the Holy Spirit is not ordinary power. This is not political power. This is beyond it. This is not a financial power. It is not also physical power. It is divine power, beyond all other powers.
Therefore, the Holy Spirit gives power to become holy. Many people want miracles, but the greatest miracle is a changed life. This is when a proud person becomes humble, that is power. This is when a sinner returns to God, that is power. When someone forgives a deep wound, that is power.
2. If you are weak in Prayer, you need the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to pray. Saint Paul says that we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26 ) There are times when words fail us. There are times when pain is too deep. There are times when we do not know what to say to God. The Holy Spirit prays within us.
3. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to understand the Word of God. Without the Holy Spirit, the Bible may look like ordinary text. But when the Spirit opens our hearts, the Word becomes a light, correction, comfort, and direction.
4. If you find it very difficult to resist sin, you need the help of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to resist sin. Human willpower is not enough. Many people promise to change but fall again. We need the Spirit because the flesh is weak. The Holy Spirit strengthens us from within.
5. The true witness is from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to witness. Jesus said: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.” Acts 1:8 Notice that Jesus did not say, “You will receive power and become famous.” He said, “You will be my witnesses.” The purpose of spiritual power is mission.
6. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to love. Real love is not easy. To love those who hurt us, to serve those who do not appreciate us, to remain faithful when it is difficult, to care when we are tired, this requires grace.
7. The Holy Spirit gives power to hope and remain strong in times of difficulties. When life becomes hard, the Spirit of God reminds us that God is not finished with us. He keeps faith alive when everything looks dark.
8. The Holy Spirit heals our infirmities. He heals your diseases and sicknesses. He is the secret of healing, miracles and impossibilities. Many miracles and the healing done by the apostles were mainly after the pentecost experience. Let us always come to Him for healing and intimate relationships.
Conclusion
1. Let every one of us understand that when you depend on your human strength alone, you will make a lot of mistakes. You need a supernatural power and presence.
This is the reason many join occultic groups to seek this super power but this is available to us and given to us freely by God, only that we do not have time for Him. We need the Holy Spirit because we cannot follow Christ by human strength alone.
Remember how the disciples were afraid until the Spirit came. Many of us also have fears: it can be the fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of tomorrow, fear of success even, fear of what people will say, fear of suffering, fear of standing for the truth. Connect with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives courage.
2. One of the many things that make us easily fall from grace are temptations. We find it very difficult sometimes to defeat and conquer.
The secret of victory against temptations is the Holy Spirit. We need the Holy Spirit because sin is strong. Temptation is not always easy to overcome. We need divine strength to say no to evil and yes to God.
3. We need the Holy Spirit because prayer can become dry. Sometimes we are distracted, tired, or spiritually cold. The Holy Spirit renews our prayer. The secret of effective prayer is the Holy Spirit. Connect to Him when you want to pray.
4. We need the Holy Spirit because the world is confusing. Many voices speak today. Social media speaks. Culture speaks. Fear speaks. Pride speaks. The Holy Spirit helps us recognize the voice of God.
We need the Holy Spirit because we have a mission. Every Christian is sent. You may not be sent to preach in a pulpit, but you are sent to your family, workplace, school, parish, community, and online space.
Your life must preach Christ. We need the Holy Spirit because gifts without holiness can become dangerous.
A person may be talented but proud. A person may be eloquent but empty. A person may be active in church but without love. The Holy Spirit purifies the heart.
We need the Holy Spirit because the Church cannot survive as a human institution alone. The Church is alive because the Spirit is alive in her.
5.The presence of the Holy Spirit is not measured by noise, emotion, or outward display. The true signs of the Spirit are deeper. It is not when you start to display some actions when you pray that we know that you have the Holy Spirit, No.
Some people in order to show others that they hear from the Spirit begin to make some sounds like shahrdhahahhdh and call it speaking in tongues.
So many christians today, fake these things just to appear holy and powerful before God. The Holy Spirit is not a spirit of manshow, it is not a spirit of power display. You hold someone on his or her head and begin to push him or her to fall to the ground, so that people can say that you are powerful. No.
Many ministers today, become angry with themselves when they pray and it seems nobody is falling lol. This is not the Holy Spirit, this is abracadaabra.
Simply, when the spirit of God comes, your life will change, this is the ultimate. It is not all that noise you are making yet your life remains the same. You still bury a lot of grudges in your hearts for someone.
Saint Paul speaks of the fruits of the Spirit:Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These fruits show that the Spirit is truly working in you if you have them.
If a person claims to have the Holy Spirit but has no love, something is wrong. If a person claims to be spiritual but is full of pride, hatred, division, and cruelty, something is wrong.
6. In the gospel today, the Gospel tells us that the disciples were behind closed doors because of fear. I understand that many of us also live behind closed doors. This is how we have locked ourselves because of what people will say. We have locked our talents, our gifts and individual contributions to the society due to fear of mistakes and rejection.
Some of us today are locked inside fear. Some are locked inside guilt. Some are locked inside past mistakes. Some are locked inside bitterness. While some are locked inside shame, spiritual dryness, betrayals, discouragement, lack, poverty, marital delays.
Now, do you remember that Jesus entered the closed room. This is now telling us that no door is too closed for the risen Lord. Therefore, no heart is too broken, no life is too wounded and no past is too dark, no problem is too deep that Jesus cannot heal.
He heals marital delays, bad pasts and mistakes. When Jesus enters, He brings peace. Then He gives the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, the Pentecost tells us that the Holy Spirit can enter the places we have locked. He can enter our fears. He can enter our wounds. He can enter our confusion. He can enter our weakness. He can solve our family problems. He can enter our ministry. He can enter our future. Where the Spirit enters, life begins again. Invite Him again and you will never regret such decision.
May God bless you today and give you the grace to receive the Holy Spirit in His fullness. Amen.
HAPPY FEAST DAY
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