“In our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power”
Today we celebrate Pentecost. Acts 2.1-11:
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.” (NRSV)
You can read today’s full lectionary text: Acts 2.1-21.
Thank you! I’m embarrassed to say that nothing was mentioned at my church this morning—or if it was, I missed it… Happy Birthday Church!
Comment by Eddy E — May 27, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
I think that’s pretty typical, Eddy, even if embarrassing :^) The lectionary has sort of gone the way of the Dodo and with it much sense of the Christian calendar and rhythms.
Of course, you can get too much of a good thing, too. In the days of my Eastern Orthodox youth it seemed like every day was named after some obscure saint who had died some particularly gruesome death that was supposed to be instructive for us in ways that were never especially clear. I didn’t (and don’t) mind forgetting most of those, but you would think Pentecost would make the Top Ten List :^)
Comment by Tom Pratt — May 27, 2007 @ 5:37 pm