Acts 2:1-8: When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?
We are gathered with the masses on the Jewish day of Pentecost. All of the sudden, there’s a mighty wind and fire surrounds us. People start talking in languages they don’t know about this mighty Jesus, the Son of God. We should be scared, but they are speaking in our native language, and they are so inspired by this man who is also God. It should be pandemonium, like the Tower of Babel falling down, and yet this time, the scrambled language is to bring God’s people together again.
On this day, we celebrate that no matter what language you speak or where you come from, God is in our midst through the Holy Spirit, blowing like a wind, burning like a fire, filling us with a love so great, that we have to share it with everyone we meet. Being in the presence of the Holy Spirit, we are filled with a power that comes from deep within us, making us bold where we used to be timid.
In this story, Peter finds his voice. He has traded in his status of follower for leader. He isn’t denying his bond with Jesus or falling asleep on the job. He isn’t that exuberant disciple, waving his hand in the air for Jesus to pick him to be his favorite. No, on his day of Pentecost, Peter knows who he is and what he’s meant to do. He is meant to feed and nurture the flock of people yearning to know God in a new way. He is meant to go to the corners of the Earth and share the Good News. He is meant to die a painful death, knowing that the path to salvation is not an easy one.
On this day, Peter is resurrected. He is a new creation. He is ready to take on a new mission. And we can be too.
Jane — I was thinking of you personally today as I saw in the Foundry Choir someone I thought from you. Your post foots perfectly with where my mind was resident this past weekend. Thanks for the beautifully integrated message from Scripture with themes that resonate so well with our jouney. Love to you — Joanne