Declaring the Mighty Works (May 19 in Relāt)

Darkness is but an unlit wick; it just needs your touch, Beloved, to become a sacred flame. –  St. Francis of Assisi

Reading for Pentecost: 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.’ But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the 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.”

Pondering:

They say that the Eskimos have somewhere between 30 and 100+ words for snow.  Because you cannot accurately describe all the ways that this essence of snow can change, end, or bring forth life, the Inuit needed more than one or two ways to describe snow and ice.   Likewise, there are over 90 words in Sanskrit that describe love, over 80 words for love in Persian, and at least 3 words in Greek that we would classify as love.  (I also read on the internet somewhere that the Inuit have 30+ ways of describing love, but that website seemed a little shady.)  No matter where we find all this information, or seek to clarify the exact truth, what can be understood is that there are often things in our lives (snow or love) that are so extraordinary and so encompassing that we could not possibly explain them with just a few words.  As Americans we sure try to describe love, but I think we can all agree that I love New Orleans style food in a far different way than I love my nieces and nephews or my companion, my pup!

On the day of Pentecost the disciples were gathered in a common room when the Spirit of God descended upon them like a rushing wind, alighting a flame over each of them and allowing each of them to declare the mighty works of God in their own languages.  Some theologians have argued that each were speaking in their own language while understanding one another in their native languages, while others have pointed to a distinct, singular language that would allow each of them to understand in their native tongue.  No matter how you classify it, the story of Pentecost is bursting with languages of all kinds, so that all could declare the work of God in whatever way they were able.  Without the multitude of languages, there’s just no way to experience the enormity that is the Spirit of God.  The Spirit of God was and is so vast that a single language, a single symbol, a single experience simply could not capture it.

On Sunday we will focus on this rebellious, subversive, unruly, wild Spirit of God that simply cannot be contained.  Whether in the form of a dove, the wind, water, a flame, or oil, the Spirit of God is too much for on symbol, one language, one group of people, or on nationality to contain.  The Spirit of God is at work in each of us and ignites us with that same passion that simply cannot be contained.

What ways are you declaring the mighty works of God because they simply cannot be contained?

Join us – we simply, cannot contain ourselves – you must, join us!