Pentecost in Portland

When the day of Pentecost was being celebrated,^[a] all of them were together in one place. ² Suddenly, a sound like the roar of a mighty windstorm came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw tongues like flames^[b] of fire that separated, and one rested on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign^[c] languages as the Spirit gave them that ability.  ⁵ Now devout Jews from every nation on earth^[d] were living in Jerusalem. ⁶ When that sound came, a crowd quickly gathered, startled because each one heard the disciples^[e] speaking in his own language.⁷ Stunned and amazed, they asked, “All of these people who are speaking are Galileans, aren’t they? ⁸ So how is it that each one of us hears them speaking in his own native language:^[f] 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,¹⁰ Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the district of Libya near Cyrene, Jewish and proselyte visitors from Rome, ¹¹ Cretans, and Arabs, listening to them talk in our own languages about the great deeds of God?”   ¹² All of them continued to be stunned and puzzled, and they kept asking one another, “What can this mean?”¹³ But others kept saying in derision, “They’re drunk on sweet wine!”    -   Acts 2: 1-13

Pentecost is one of the  high days in the life of the Christian Church.     We hear the story of the first Pentecost in the life of the church in the passage of scripture printed above.  It is read in these days in many churches and in different languages.   As a group of devout Jews and followers of Jesus from across the known world  were together in Jerusalem,  the Holy Spirit comes upon them and turns them into a bold, believing community.  The power of the Spirit breaks down the walls between them and knits them together into the body of Christ, the Church.      

It is the day of Pentecost in Portland, Oregon as I write this.    In some ways,  Portland  today is like Jerusalem in that passage printed above.    There are people here for the General Conference of the United Methodist Church from every continent in this big, beautiful world.   As on  the day of Pentecost long ago,  people here speak different languages.   The languages they speak include French,  Spanish, English, and other dialects, but the languages they speak also are filled with passion for important causes.    Sometimes, I sense people  do not understand the languages that are spoken even when they are from the same country.         In the midst of it all, there is one language they speak that unites  all:   the love of Christ Jesus.     I believe in my heart that the brothers or sisters I see around me  love Christ Jesus and are loved by him.     Before his ascension back to the Father,  Jesus told his disciples to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit.      I am in Portland, waiting for the Holy Spirit to take one and all and mold us not into my way or into my will but into the way and the will of God.     Come, Holy Spirit.  Come.   Have a joy-filled week.-   Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:  Come, Holy Spirit, come.  Mold us and make us into the image of Christ; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.