Pentecost Sunday – Welcome Holy Spirit!

 June 4, 2017

Reds swirl throughout the church, red streamers, red banners, red dresses and shirts, all to capture the spirit of flames. It is a fiery end to the Easter season, this celebration of Pentecost. We celebrate the coming of the spirit upon the apostles so long ago, the birthday of the church. It is not an ending, but a beginning. The Easter season is over, but so much work remains to be done.

Pentecost healed the barriers of language that were erected at the time of Babel. The miracle of Pentecost is one of understanding. Not only did the apostles speak in tongues, languages, whatever the language, they were understood. What a great gift this is, this gift of being understood. How rarely is this to be found in our society. We listen with one ear closed, our mind already busy preparing our response rather than truly listening and understanding each other.

Is there any wonder there is so much violence, hatred, jealousy and misunderstanding in our world? How rarely do we find someone who truly “gets” us. When we do it is a treasure indeed. We want to hold on to these people.

For a brief moment, the sin of Babel had been healed and all understood. How desperately do we need that understanding in our world today. We need true understanding across cultures, races, religions. We need a new Pentecost.

In the meantime, we are left with the task of building understanding, reaching across barriers and building the church, a place were all people are welcomed and understood and loved as God’s children.

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.    Acts 2:3-4

This post is part of a series of reflections on the Church year.    click here to follow blog