Listen

There were pious Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were mystified because everyone heard them speaking in their native languages. They were surprised and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them? How then can each of us hear them speaking in our native language? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; as well as residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya bordering Cyrene; and visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own languages!” They were all surprised and bewildered. Some asked each other, “What does this mean?” Others jeered at them, saying, “They’re full of new wine!”

Acts 2:5-13

Think

“What does this mean?” After the Spirit had brought God’s people together at Pentecost, the people struggled to understand what it meant. They had this amazing experience but didn’t know how to talk about it. They were both amazed and confused. Some even doubted and tried to explain it away.

In our own time — where our nation, churches, and even our families are deeply divided over important issues — we may think of unity and understanding as wishful thinking. Imagine if the Spirit fell on God’s people today? How would that happen? What would unity even look like? What would it mean to understand someone who speaks a totally different “language”? Would it mean not arguing with my parents at Thanksgiving dinner? Would it mean churches united across differences to address poverty, racism, and loneliness?

If the Spirit brought us together today, I wonder how each of us would react. Some may be amazed. Others may be confused. Others may try to explain it away. Though we may think unity is impossible, Jesus says that with God all things are possible.

Come, Holy Spirit!

Kyle Caudle

Pray

Holy Spirit, open my heart today to the gift of community. Bring us together that we may love one another as Jesus calls us. Amen.

Go

Breathe in, Breathe out

Breathe anew this day

Through the power and presence of the Spirit

Who goes with you

Every step of the way