Day of Pentecost: Are We Listening for The Spirit's Many Languages?

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV)

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples 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? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' "

Psalm 104:25-35, 37 (BCP., p.735)


Romans 8:14-17 (NRSV)

All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ-- if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

John 14:8-17 (NRSV)

Philip said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you."

Blog Reflection

So, here we come to it.  The conclusion of the Easter Season with the Day of Pentecost.  Pentecost is often said to be the Birthday of the Church.  It is a celebration marked by a birthday cake at the coffee hour after Sunday Eucharist.

The experience of those first Apostles in the upper room followed by the diverse languages they spoke, is symbolic of the many different ways the Holy Spirit speaks the language of Salvation.  It is the language of God's amazing love by which God offered Jesus on the Cross by which He triumphed over  death in the Resurrection.  Through those languages each person tells their stories about how God touches their lives; bringing healing and reconciliation between all people.  

The coming of the Holy Spirit is not the moment by which Christianity becomes a religion of supercessionism, making all other religions less than what Christianity is.  On the contrary, it is the moment in which the Holy Spirit empowers Christians to see a world beyond our doctrines, creeds and dogmas; to respecting the dignity of every human person; by which we share the love of Jesus with others around us.

The Holy Spirit is believed to be the feminine nature of God.  The Spirit is our advocate with God on our behalf.  The reading from Romans suggests that through the Holy Spirit, we receive the gift of being God's adopted daughters and sons regardless of how the labels the world around us might define us.  We are identified by the relationship of God to us, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit confirms this relationship through the gift of Gods amazing grace through Christ.

As the Church continues to struggle with what we are listening to from transgender bathroom bills, same gender marriage rites in the Church in New Zealand, immigration, racism and gun violence; who's stories are we listening to, and who's are we ignoring?  What new language are we prepared to learn and learn from; so that the message of the compassion and healing hands of Jesus can be felt by those yearning to be loved and included?   

The Holy Spirit continues to move upon the Church and Christians "to be lead into all truth." (John 16:13).  A truth that is living and growing as opposed to deteriorating and becoming stagnant. 

Each of us will keep the commandments of Jesus in our unique way, in the only way that God calls us to do.  The more open we are to the languages through which the stories of Salvation and Redemption are told; the greater the ministry of the Church bears better fruit.

As our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has said, "We are called to be part of the Jesus movement, to make the world a better place for all of God's People."

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life
to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy
Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the
preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the
earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.227).

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.818).

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.815).