Eastertide

May 22, 2023

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-21

“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. –Acts 2:17-18

Look around you. Whom do you see with the same positive, forward-looking enthusiasm described in the above scripture? The idea is that yes, we have serious problems, but we can do something about it. What I see reminds me of the children’s story of Chicken Little, who ran around calling out: “The sky was falling.” In their hysteria and distraction, they are eaten by the fox. There is a lesson for all in that story.

It has been interesting to observe how we have responded to the recent end of Title 42 regarding immigration. The response and care of people fleeing danger and distress in their homelands is a tremendous challenge. Filtering out the smugglers and crooks makes it even harder. With much hard work by government workers and non-profit organizations, it has not turned out to be the debacle some people projected, and probably some wanted to fail to support their political aspirations.

Are we Christ-followers like scared chickens, or are we following the footsteps of our ancestors in faith, accepting the guidance of the Holy Spirit to envision a better world and implement the steps necessary to make it a reality?

Prayer: Spirit of the living God fall afresh on us. Melt us, mold us, fill us, use us*. Amen.

*Adapted from the chorus Spirit of the Living God.

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.