Trinity Episcopal Church

May 31, 2009

OK. It’s Pentecost, and every year I try to make sense of what happened in the 2nd chapter of the Book of Acts. That’s the story of how all the believers of Jesus were gathered together in one place (which is a great definition of church), and suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind and filled the entire place (I can’t help think of a low flying jet plane passing overhead, shaking the building).

So far, I think I can grasp what’s going on that day in Jerusalem, but then the writer Luke really throws me for a loop. He says, tongues, as of fire, (like the flames of a burning log in the old fireplace) appeared among them…all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages. This 2000 year old story is difficult to understand, (a opinion expressed by most scholars I’ve read) and if you‘re like me, a good reasonable Episcopalian, you’re thinking you wouldn’t have wanted to be there.

As vague as it is, the story does tell us something new and powerful happened that day---it was the birth of the church. And the church, Luke says, consisted of “every nation under heaven.” And right away all those who witnessed the event were amazed and they knew the church was this new organism that would speak to everyone…about how God wants to be connected to each person and give them a new and powerful life. A new era for the whole world began that day; it was the birth of Christianity.

Pentecost is the season of the year when we recognize and learn about the Holy Spirit coming to the church. That’s what the Holy Spirit does, it makes God, our faith, our life, new and powerful. So what is new and powerful in your life?

Trinity Episcopal Church

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May 31, 2009