Pentecost
This morning I participated in the reading of the Pentecost story from the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2, in my parish's celebration. As the reader for the day began reading the story in English a number of people stood up where ever they were in the congregation and read the same story aloud in other languages. All over the church multiple readers were reading the same story out loud at the same time in multiple languages -- the effect was a kind of jubilant overflowing.
In the Pentecost story a great wind blows in and flames of fire skip from person to person and the disciples of Jesus speak. People from all over the world are in Jerusalem that day. A crowd gathers around the disciples -- a crowd of people from many different countries. They speak many different languages, but amazingly, on this day, everyone hears and understands -- in his or her own language. Or, to put it in another way, no matter what language a person uses, when the message comes to each one it comes in the language he or she understands.
This is a great story of inclusion.
I found myself thinking about my partners at the Open Door and Next Door -- homeless young women and men between the ages of 17 and 35. They work hard at difficult jobs. They struggle with a variety of issues. They have had experiences I have not had. Some have had experiences beyond my capacity to even imagine.
As I participated in my community's remembering of Pentecost today I experienced the story as good news.
First, we are all valuable -- regardless of what language we understand.
Second, God speaks in a language that works for us. You don't have to hear God in the language I do. You get to hear from God in your own inner and outer language.
Third, instead of calling us all to be the same, the Pentecost story portrays the good news more like fireworks -- many colors, many sounds, many forms.
I came home happy in this joyful multiplicity of things. And I felt reminded to let people listen and hear and speak in their own languages.
Pentecost is a day with good news for people in homeless shelters.
I didn't think about how this connects with our country's immigration debate until this afternoon as I wrote this post. It is interesting to think about all the "English only" legislation being introduced around the country, including a proposal introduced into the Michigan House of Representatives by Jack Hoogendyk, who represents this area.
How does the spirit of "English only" fit with the spirit of Pentecost?
Pentecost is a story of God's embrace of the wild diversity of humanity -- and it isn't a gloomy, begrudging, lame embrace. Its a lively joyful spirited embrace. I love that.
In the Pentecost story a great wind blows in and flames of fire skip from person to person and the disciples of Jesus speak. People from all over the world are in Jerusalem that day. A crowd gathers around the disciples -- a crowd of people from many different countries. They speak many different languages, but amazingly, on this day, everyone hears and understands -- in his or her own language. Or, to put it in another way, no matter what language a person uses, when the message comes to each one it comes in the language he or she understands.
This is a great story of inclusion.
I found myself thinking about my partners at the Open Door and Next Door -- homeless young women and men between the ages of 17 and 35. They work hard at difficult jobs. They struggle with a variety of issues. They have had experiences I have not had. Some have had experiences beyond my capacity to even imagine.
As I participated in my community's remembering of Pentecost today I experienced the story as good news.
First, we are all valuable -- regardless of what language we understand.
Second, God speaks in a language that works for us. You don't have to hear God in the language I do. You get to hear from God in your own inner and outer language.
Third, instead of calling us all to be the same, the Pentecost story portrays the good news more like fireworks -- many colors, many sounds, many forms.
I came home happy in this joyful multiplicity of things. And I felt reminded to let people listen and hear and speak in their own languages.
Pentecost is a day with good news for people in homeless shelters.
I didn't think about how this connects with our country's immigration debate until this afternoon as I wrote this post. It is interesting to think about all the "English only" legislation being introduced around the country, including a proposal introduced into the Michigan House of Representatives by Jack Hoogendyk, who represents this area.
How does the spirit of "English only" fit with the spirit of Pentecost?
Pentecost is a story of God's embrace of the wild diversity of humanity -- and it isn't a gloomy, begrudging, lame embrace. Its a lively joyful spirited embrace. I love that.
posted by Rick Stravers at 6:32 PM
1 Comments:
Rick, It is great to see a leader taking a stand for what is right. Your way of showing us how to incorporate God's message and power in the "now time" is awesome. I will continue to press towards the mark that God has set forth.
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