Pentecost

May 23, 2021

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-21

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? 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.’ –Acts 2:1-13

The coming of the Holy Spirit was one of those events where one had to be there to describe what happened. Even with in-person witnesses, it was hard to explain. The event got the message across to Peter that the time had come to take the message of Jesus Christ to the whole world. What better means to do that than to have a large crowd of people who spoke various languages understand what Peter was saying. These people were sent home with curiosity to pave the way for the Disciples’ ministry. It also gave the Disciples courage to step out into strange lands, knowing that God would find a way for them to communicate God’s love.

We are called to share the love of God with the whole world still today. The world as a whole certainly needs to understand the power of God’s love. We are caught in a difficult time filled with people who have more than they need and people who do not have enough to meet their basic needs. The percent of people in the USA today who identify as Christians has dropped steadily for several years. Some Christians are caught in as much greed and lust for power as the non-faith-based populations in the USA. Other parts of the world are in a far worse condition where greater numbers of God’s children are dying from starvation or being killed by the ravages of terrorists.

How are we answering the call to love God and love like Jesus? Are we feeding the hungry, providing safe water for the thirsty, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, restoring the prisoner, and welcoming the stranger?

Prayer: Lord, visit us once again with the strength of your Spirit to help us know we can love as you love and address the needs of all your children everywhere. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.