Thoughts going in, May 15th, Pentecost

Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our own language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 " 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

            This Sunday is Pentecost--one of the 6 Principle Festivals of the liturgical year (along with Christmas, Easter, Epiphany, Ascension, and Holy Trinity).Pentecost is the Greek name for the Feast of Weeks which began as a prominent feast in the calendar of ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai. This feast is still celebrated in Judaism as Shavuot. Later, in the Church it took on meaning as the fiftieth day of Easter. On Pentecost we celebrate the Holy Spirit as the power of God among us that heals, forgives, inspires, and unites. In the reading from Acts, images of wind and fire describe the Spirit poured out on disciples of all nations. In the gospel of the day from John, the risen Christ breathes the Spirit on his followers on Easter evening. In the one Spirit we are baptized into one body, and at the Lord's table the Spirit unites us for witness.

The first reading of the day from Acts 2 is the fulfillment of Jesus' promise as given in Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

            The Greek word for 'power' in vs 1:8 is one of my favorites, and one that I point out often: dynamis. We get our English word dynamite from it. It's powerful stuff, in other words. There's also another interesting nuance to the word. It's not just raw power for its own sake; another definition of the word is ability.

            When we put all of these thoughts together in order to meditate on the festival of Pentecost, one of the main things that hits me is that in this first outpouring of the Spirit, and in the Spirit's continued presence and activity among the Church, believers are given the ability to carry out the mission God has in store for them. Sometimes this can seem like a real 'flashy' sort of thing--like tongues of fire coming to rest on people's heads. At other times it may be far less flashy, but the point is still valid; believers, through the indwelling presence and work of the Spirit are given the ability to do great things; the ability to experience healing in their broken lives and relationships; the ability to speak words of hope and forgiveness to a hurting world; and most importantly of all, the ability to SEE God’s presence and work among us.

            Another thing that pops out at me is the point being made in vss 7-8: 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our own language? Language can be far more than simply one's spoken dialect. In his book "The Five Love Languages," author Gary Chapman discusses five different 'languages' used to express love--as well as to receive the expression of love. Those languages are: words of affirmation; quality time; giving/receiving gifts; acts of service, and physical touch. Originally the book was intended to help people in their marital relationships, but more than one person has noted that his insights can be applied in a broader, more general sense. They can also be applied in the community of faith.... both as we relate to each other, and as we relate to the world outside.

            This particularly struck me in terms of the evangelistic emphasis of the Spirit's activity on that first Pentecost. OUTSIDERS were drawn in, at least long enough to ask what does this mean? (v12). They were drawn in because the Spirit had empowered the Church to speak their language. Questions for us... HOW is the Spirit empowering us to speak the language of outsiders today? How might we communicate the love of God with words of affirmation? TOO OFTEN the only words outsiders hear from the Church are words of condemnation. This is wrong. How might we communicate the love of God with quality time... giving gifts, acts of service, and even physical touch?

These are just some thoughts going in!

Cheers,

T.M.