Readings:
Acts 2:1-21;
Psalm 104:26-36;
Romans 8:14-17;
John 14:8-17

Collect:
O God, who at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people
by sending them the light of your Holy Spirit:
grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things
and evermore to rejoice in this holy comfort;
through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen

Reflection

The way Acts tells the story of Pentecost, it all comes as such a shock.

In the story up to now, it would appear the disciples have gone back to getting on with their lives, their daily work, still meeting in the Temple, and now also meeting together, “united in devotion and prayer” (Ac 1:14). We find them choosing another disciple to take the place of Judas, one called Matthias. This group of 12, heirs of God’s chosen people, representing the 12 tribes, are accorded the title Apostles, which means “sent out” or perhaps even “sent away”, and they are sent out with special responsibility: to tell the story of Jesus, now raised from the dead, who himself proclaimed the presence of God’s reign. It seems this responsibility separates apostles from disciples. They are the ambassadors, as it were, representing Jesus to the world.

But Luke, like so many good authors, is leading us a little up the garden path here. For, no sooner have they chosen the twelfth member of the apostolate (from a choice of two, drawn by lots, my favourite method), when “the howling of a fierce wind” (Common English Bible) or “rush of violent wind” (NRSV) takes over the whole house where they are staying. This is important for Luke, the whole house is overcome with this driving outburst of violent wind, and then a vision of flames, like tongues of fire, settling over and coming to rest on each one – the apostles and the disciples gathered.

Wind and fire. How powerful and how dangerous are these. We do our best to manage, if not control, them. All our current energy supply comes, as source, from these two. We’ve managed and controlled them, and how exceedingly powerful they are. But our control is very limited, if we can be said to control them at all. When they are generated by forces beyond our control, we’re in all sorts of trouble.

This may well be some of the story that Luke is challenging us with – we are not in control, and cannot control, God’s Holy Spirit. No wonder the stories are of surprise and of people not coping. Others seeing this even think they’re drunk. We might associate this charge of drunkenness with the variety of languages, but I doubt very much that we’re offered a noisy rabble sounding drunk. Luke gives us quite a list of places from which this Jewish crowd came, and Luke is much more concerned that everyone in this crowd, gathered “from every nation under heaven” (Ac 2:5), from all over the known world, hears and receives this proclamation. Each person is being challenged to be changed. Challenged to feel that blast of wind, taking over absolutely everything. And changed to know the flames of God’s own passion, whom we proclaim as One who receives all, blesses all and gives a home to all. Not one is left out or neglected. We are bound together in community, and we abandon ourselves to God’s love, no matter what. This is Pentecost.

In the words of Charles Coffin (1676-1749):

O Holy Spirit, Lord of grace,
eternal fount of love,
inflame, we pray, our inmost hearts
with fire from heaven we pray.

As you unite in holy bond,
the Father and the Son,
so fill us all with mutual love,
and make our hearts as one.

Barry Lotz