Dear God:

I’ve been imagining Pentecost… (Luke and Acts)

The disciples were trying to get their movement back on track. 

A few days before, Jesus had led a march into Jerusalem; to the Temple, to be exact. Gathered outside were folks selling this and that for use in the temple and they were selling it for way too much. Poor folks couldn’t afford it.

So, with Jesus at the lead, the marchers chased out the vendors and, some say, turned their tables over. As the news got around I imagine that some called it a rebellion and some called it a riot but what we do know is that the leaders of the Temple weren’t having it. They went after Jesus and they arrested him and they decided they wanted him dead. They had him crucified.

A crucified person ultimately died by asphyxiation. They could not breathe.

I’ve been imagining Pentecost… (Acts 2:1-13)

The last few days had been confusing. The disciples had been afraid and betrayed and ashamed and… and… Jesus was present and not present. They were trying to figure it out, trying to get organized, trying to gather again, trying to know what they should do next. I imagine they talked and prayed and debated and prayed and sang and prayed…

…then, WOOSH! Tongues of flame came out of nowhere and that fire filled them and that fire bubbled out and, like all holy fire, it came with power and clarity and passion. 

When there is fire and noise like that people pay attention even if they don’t always understand. All those nearby heard the WOOSH and they heard the message even if they didn’t always understand it. Some of those nearby even tried to discredit the moment and said the disciples were drunk…

I’ve been imagining Pentecost… (Acts 2:14-21)

Those young people telling the truth…

Those young people fighting for a world with space for them in it…

Those who loved them catching on…

All classes of people, all genders, all races, catching on…

All people seeing the signs that things had to change and catching on…

All things looking like they were falling apart…

And yet….

I’ve been imagining Pentecost…

Would we know it if it came today?

Dear God, help us to know it today.

Amen.