Scripture can be found here…
My friends, in our scripture reading we have had the tiniest taste of what Pentecost must have felt like, at that moment when Jesus’ friends and followers poured out into the streets, and the Holy Spirit poured out of them. Our scripture passage was proclaimed in English, German, Spanish, French, Russian, and Italian, representing just a tiny handful of the nearly 6,500 languages that are spoken throughout our world today. But they also represent the diversity of our community—and not even in its fullness.
Picture the scene:
There they are. Simon Peter. Mary of Nazareth, the mother of Jesus. John. James and his mother, also named Mary. Bartholomew. Simon the Zealot. Susanna.
They were praying, and they were also studying scripture. On Pentecost Christians celebrate God coming to us in the Holy Spirit, pouring out power for giving witness to the gospel, the foundation of the church. But before that Spirit-happening we’re celebrating today, the Jews had their own Pentecost feast. On their Pentecost, Jews remember God giving the people the Torah, the law, on Mount Sinai. And so, being good and observant Jews, Jesus’ friends must have been gathered together in that upstairs room studying the Torah, because that is how Jews celebrate Pentecost.
There they are. Thomas. Andrew. Joanna. Philip. The other Judas, son of James. Mary Magdalene. And then—scripture describes something powerful, something unmistakable. Wind. Flame. All signs of God’s presence, just as when God was in the wilderness with the people as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of flame by night.
And then… another sign. A miracle of communication. The words Jesus’ people shared. Those words were understood by all the people crowding Jerusalem for the Pentecost celebration, no matter what language they spoke, no matter what region of the known world they called home. Parthians and Medes, both of whom today we would call Iranians, but who—just like today’s Iranians—spoke different languages. People from Mesopotamia, a huge territory which would include today’s Iraq, Kuwait, and parts of Syria, and whose ancient language, Sumerian, would still have been used for religious ceremonies. Phrygia—part of what we now know as the Anatolian region of Turkey, whose language was still spoken until the 6th century AD. Pamphylians, from another part of Anatolia, more south, along the Mediterranean, whose inhabitants also came from Greece. Egyptians, whose Afro-Asiatic language has one of the longest histories of any language in recorded history. And more than these.
All these people, from so many different cultures, speaking so many languages: they understood what these Galilean Jews were saying to them. These former fishermen and tax collectors and part-time revolutionaries were able to speak their language.
That’s what we need. A miracle of communication. If I could call upon the Holy Spirit to do one thing, just one thing today, here, in our nation? I would ask the Spirit to re-enact Pentecost so that we inhabitants of the United States could talk to one another, whatever languages we speak. We are divided, not so much by languages like English and Spanish and Russian, but by languages of political persuasion. At times, we seem unable to talk to one another without yelling. We talk over one another. We summarize and dismiss one another.
I am guilty of this. I pray to do better. And I pray that all of us might have a miracle of communication that would make a Pentecost for our nation, with every voice heard, and every heart cared for.
And after all—that’s how the miracle continues in our story, isn’t it? Peter stands before the crowd, and calls upon them to understand that this moment is what the prophet Joel had in mind. He quotes the prophet:
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 youth shall see visions,
and your elders shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy. ~Acts 2:17-18; Joel 2:28-29
Do you see what God did there? Everyone is given the gift of prophecy. Everyone. No distinction is made on the basis of sex or gender. None is made on the basis of age. And astonishing of all: no distinction. Prophecy if you are free. Prophecy if you are a slave. A radical statement. Everyone from the youngest child in arms to the most venerable elder has a word for us from God above. Every person of every description is included. No one is excluded.
As always, God’s reign of justice, love, and peace is for all people. Every voice is heard, and every heart is cared for.
What a touchstone Pentecost is for us. Could be. What a call to each of us who seeks to follow Jesus.
From ordinary people, miracles of boldly sharing the gospel.
From regular folk, miracles of communication—listening with our hearts as we seek to truly understand one another.
From and for all of us, miracles of inclusion. All are welcome.
Thanks be to God.
Let us pray.
Great God of Pentecost;
God who came among us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus;
God whose Spirit comes among us as breath, wind, and flame:
We lift our hearts to you in prayer.
We pray for the needs of each one,
and each community, here and everywhere.
For each community, home, and individual affected by COVID-19, bring hope and strength.
For all who are essential workers, bring strength and support.
For every community, home, and individual affected by the ravages of addiction, bring serenity, courage, and wisdom.
For every community, home, and individual affected by death through suicide, bring comfort and companionship.
For all who grieve the deaths of their beloveds, bring consolation and peace.
For those who welcome new life and new birth, let their joy be amplified and shared!
For all who lead us through these days, bring wisdom and compassion.
As at Pentecost your Spirit fell upon waiting disciples,
and empowered them as your faithful witnesses,
now, by your Spirit, fill us with joy and boldness.
May the power of your Spirit transform us,
the prompting of your Spirit lead us,
and the gifts of your Spirit mark our lives, now and forever. Amen.