ACTS 2:1-4 (NRSV)
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.
Today is Pentecost Sunday – the end of Easter season, and the day that is often called the “birthday” of the church.
During Easter, over the past few weeks, we have read several of the stories of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances among his followers. Though these stories vary as to location and cast of characters present, they all, in some way or another, feature Jesus promising the arrival of the Holy Spirit to “take his place” and guide and empower the disciples to continue the work they were called to do in Jesus’ name. In some, he gave the Spirit to them right then; in others he promised he would send the Spirit once he returned to heaven.
Today’s story is the fulfillment of all those promises. We all know this story. After cowering in fear behind closed doors ever since the crucifixion, the frightened and lost disciples are suddenly hit by a “rush of violent wind” which brings with it tongues of fire floating above their heads, as they are overtaken by the promised Spirit.
To their own initial wonderment they begin speaking in foreign languages – each one different. At this point, they rush out the door to tell the world about the one who has given them this magical power, and their hearers, gathered from a large assortment of foreign lands for the big festival of Pentecost, hear them, each in their own language.
Some of the hearers scoffed and dismissed the disciples as only “Galileans,” which at that time would have been short-hand for “country-bumpkins.” How could anything worth listening to come from such as these? Pfft! It’s just drunken babbling.
But Peter countered this argument by calling to those who were faithful Jews there, and quoting from the ninth century prophet Joel:
Something happened at this time to take a small and humble gathering of people into a force that has changed the world in ways both great and small – not always for the better – but definitely changed it. The writers of the New Testament called it the Holy Spirit. This Spirit was not given to the people on Pentecost Day – that gift had already been given by Jesus. What happened on Pentecost was a fanning of a small, pre-existing spark into an unstoppable conflagration.
This is an image that is, unfortunately, all too familiar for those of us who live in California right now. We know more than we ever wanted to know about small sparks growing into all-consuming flames and it isn’t an altogether comfortable image for many of us, but in its metaphorical sense this is exactly what happened to the not-yet-named Christian community on that long ago day.
What became a huge, world-changing movement began with individual people, each carrying within them a small, often unnoticed spark of the divine Spirit – which, when ignited, grew and changed those individuals forever.
Today, rather than focus on the big, sweeping world changes, I would rather think about those smaller, individual changes. Jesus, I believe, never set out to change the world all at once. His calling was to change hearts – one heart at a time – one soul at a time, allowing itself itself to be touched by the Spirit and changed forever.
A modern-day writer named Sandy Olson made this lovely connection with the workings of the Spirit:
Each of us is here today because we have been touched by that Spirit. That spark lives within each one of us. What does that mean to us? Our call as Christ-followers is to change the world, to share the love of God everywhere, to stand for justice for all God’s people. As sharers of that Holy Spirit, have we accepted its power and guidance within us?
To use Hildegard’s language, have we allowed our souls to be ‘greened,’ and if so, are we bearing good fruit?
During Easter, over the past few weeks, we have read several of the stories of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances among his followers. Though these stories vary as to location and cast of characters present, they all, in some way or another, feature Jesus promising the arrival of the Holy Spirit to “take his place” and guide and empower the disciples to continue the work they were called to do in Jesus’ name. In some, he gave the Spirit to them right then; in others he promised he would send the Spirit once he returned to heaven.
Today’s story is the fulfillment of all those promises. We all know this story. After cowering in fear behind closed doors ever since the crucifixion, the frightened and lost disciples are suddenly hit by a “rush of violent wind” which brings with it tongues of fire floating above their heads, as they are overtaken by the promised Spirit.
To their own initial wonderment they begin speaking in foreign languages – each one different. At this point, they rush out the door to tell the world about the one who has given them this magical power, and their hearers, gathered from a large assortment of foreign lands for the big festival of Pentecost, hear them, each in their own language.
Some of the hearers scoffed and dismissed the disciples as only “Galileans,” which at that time would have been short-hand for “country-bumpkins.” How could anything worth listening to come from such as these? Pfft! It’s just drunken babbling.
But Peter countered this argument by calling to those who were faithful Jews there, and quoting from the ninth century 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.’
Something happened at this time to take a small and humble gathering of people into a force that has changed the world in ways both great and small – not always for the better – but definitely changed it. The writers of the New Testament called it the Holy Spirit. This Spirit was not given to the people on Pentecost Day – that gift had already been given by Jesus. What happened on Pentecost was a fanning of a small, pre-existing spark into an unstoppable conflagration.
This is an image that is, unfortunately, all too familiar for those of us who live in California right now. We know more than we ever wanted to know about small sparks growing into all-consuming flames and it isn’t an altogether comfortable image for many of us, but in its metaphorical sense this is exactly what happened to the not-yet-named Christian community on that long ago day.
What became a huge, world-changing movement began with individual people, each carrying within them a small, often unnoticed spark of the divine Spirit – which, when ignited, grew and changed those individuals forever.
Today, rather than focus on the big, sweeping world changes, I would rather think about those smaller, individual changes. Jesus, I believe, never set out to change the world all at once. His calling was to change hearts – one heart at a time – one soul at a time, allowing itself itself to be touched by the Spirit and changed forever.
A modern-day writer named Sandy Olson made this lovely connection with the workings of the Spirit:
- "I read a wonderful quote from the twelfth century mystic, Hildegard of Bingen that gave me pause. She described the Holy Spirit as 'the Greening Power of God.' Of course she did not intend that in the context that we might mean by 'Greening' today - something; that is, making it more environmentally friendly. She meant, I believe, that as plants are greened by water, sunlight, and soil, the human soul is 'greened' by the Holy Spirit's presence in one's life. Because of the Holy Spirit the human soul can 'flower and bear good fruit.'"
Each of us is here today because we have been touched by that Spirit. That spark lives within each one of us. What does that mean to us? Our call as Christ-followers is to change the world, to share the love of God everywhere, to stand for justice for all God’s people. As sharers of that Holy Spirit, have we accepted its power and guidance within us?
To use Hildegard’s language, have we allowed our souls to be ‘greened,’ and if so, are we bearing good fruit?
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