Readings: Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104; Romans 8:8-17; John 14:15-16, 23-26
Grace and peace to you dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
Today we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Church, the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in wind and fire and transformed fearful disciples into courageous witnesses. Pentecost is not merely about speaking in tongues or extraordinary manifestations. Pentecost is also about unity. The Holy Spirit came not only to fill people with power but also to gather scattered people into one family and one body in Christ.
Today I wish to reflect on the theme:
The Holy Spirit as an Agent of Unity in the Church and in the Family.
In the priestly prayer of Jesus in John 17, Jesus repeatedly prayed that His followers “may be one.” He desires unity among His followers, within His Church and within families. Unity has always been in the heart of Christ.
OUR WORLD TODAY
Many families and parishes today suffer greatly from a lack of unity. Even our world itself is fractured. We see nations increasingly driving foreigners away, we hear of wars among nations and ethnic and tribal conflicts among people of the same nation, we see divisions in communities, friendships and sadly even within families and Churches.
Today more than ever, our world desperately needs the work of the Holy Spirit.
I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS AN AGENT OF UNITY
The Holy Spirit gathers people into one.
The Apostles themselves are a good example. They had different personalities and backgrounds. Yet when the Holy Spirit descended upon them, they became one in heart and one in mission.
In the First Reading, we hear people from different nations, languages and backgrounds gathered together. They heard one message and, as the Second Reading tells us, those who believe are brought through one Baptism into the one Body of Christ.
The Holy Spirit does not destroy diversity. He creates harmony within diversity. He does not make everyone identical; rather, He allows different gifts, personalities and backgrounds to work together in love.
This truth is beautifully expressed in the Eucharistic Prayer III at Mass. The priest says:
“Grant that we who are nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son and filled with His Holy Spirit may become one body, one spirit in Christ.”
Again in Eucharistic Prayer II we hear:
“Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit gathers us at every Mass. He gathers different races, tribes, cultures, personalities and generations and forms one family in Christ.
Every Mass is therefore a little Pentecost.
II. WHAT CAUSES DISUNITY IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE FAMILY?
If the Holy Spirit creates unity, we must ask ourselves what destroys it.
Let us look at three ways.
- Our thoughts
Many divisions begin in the heart and in our thoughts. We sometimes develop prejudice based on appearance, pride that makes us think we are better or more gifted than others, envy because others appear more successful, more loved or more appreciated than us, suspicion towards people’s intentions, feelings of rejection, or negative assumptions about others. Many times we have already judged people in our hearts before they even speak.
- Our words to one another
Disunity can also arise through gossiping, slandering, undermining the reputation of others, backbiting, angry exchanges, lying, forcing our opinions on others, excessive criticism, judgement and careless speech. Words can heal and words can wound.
St. James tells us that the tongue, though small, can “set a forest on fire” (James 3:5-6).
Words have wounded families, destroyed friendships and divided many Church communities. Many divisions do not begin with major events but with small words.
- Our actions
Disunity is also caused by our actions and behaviour towards others through disrespect, reacting based on hearsay, creating unnecessary divisions and camps, being inconsiderate, correcting people harshly, refusing to speak to certain people, aggressive behaviour, overreacting, ignoring people, showing unkindness, acting selfishly or refusing correction. All these gradually weaken relationships and destroy unity in the Church, in families and among friends.
III. HOW DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT CREATE UNITY?
The Holy Spirit works in beautiful ways.
- He convicts us and calls us to repentance and Confession
Jesus says:
“When He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin” (John 16:8).
The Holy Spirit reveals our pride, anger, jealousy, unforgiveness and harmful attitudes. Many times we ask God to change others while the Holy Spirit is quietly asking us to change ourselves.
The Holy Spirit first changes us before He changes relationships.
Unity often begins with personal conversion.
- He bears fruit within us
St. Paul speaks of the fruits of the Spirit:
“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Notice something beautiful. All the fruits of the Holy Spirit are fruits that preserve unity. A Spirit-filled person becomes a builder of communion.
Imagine a family or parish where people truly practise these fruits. Many of our problems would disappear.
- He helps us to heal and forgive
No family, Church community, friendship or marriage survives without forgiveness. No wonder Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to the disciples in today’s Gospel and calls them to become channels of forgiveness.
Many people carry wounds from words, actions and disappointments that happened years ago. The Holy Spirit enters those wounded places and heals hearts. He gives us strength to forgive even when forgiveness seems difficult. He softens hearts that have become hard.
- He teaches us to love and bear with one another
This is very important because loving certain people is not always easy. The Holy Spirit teaches us patience and helps us carry one another’s weaknesses.
- He teaches a culture of respect and honour
One of the signs of the Holy Spirit is respect for the dignity of others.
Many divisions happen because people feel ignored, looked down upon or dishonoured.
The Holy Spirit teaches us to value people, to listen, appreciate, speak kindly to people and recognise that every person is created in God’s image.
THE CALL TO COOPERATE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Today we are called to cooperate with the Holy Spirit by praying fervently and invoking Him, by being attentive to His promptings, by surrendering ourselves to Him and by obeying His voice. We must learn to yield to Him and allow Him to transform us from within so that we may work with Him in His mission of creating and strengthening unity in our homes, in our parish and in our world.
CONCLUSION
The Holy Spirit who descended at Pentecost still desires to unite hearts today. He wants to unite us with God, unite families, unite communities, unite the Church and unite the world.
May our prayer today be:
“Come Holy Spirit. Gather nations, families and our Church into one. Heal our wounds, change our hearts, teach us to love, honour and respect one another. We pray particularly that those of us who receive the Body and Blood of Christ may truly be gathered into one by Your power.”
Amen.
Sermon preached by Fr Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on May 24, 2026