Listen

Peter stood with the other eleven apostles. He raised his voice and declared, “Judeans and everyone living in Jerusalem! Know this! Listen carefully to my words! These people aren’t drunk, as you suspect; after all, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning! Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young will see visions. Your elders will dream dreams. Even upon my servants, men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will cause wonders to occur in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. The sun will be changed into darkness, and the moon will be changed into blood, before the great and spectacular day of the Lord comes. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Acts 2:14-21

Think

Anybody who comes from Tornado Alley like I do knows that wind doesn’t always go where it’s supposed to. Wind is powerful. Wind changes things. Wind isn’t under our control.

The Scriptures tell us that the Holy Spirit is like wind. The Holy Spirit is powerful. The Holy Spirit changes things. The Holy Spirit isn’t under our control. And the Holy Spirit has come upon God’s people as the prophets foretold, poured out on all people. Sons and daughters will prophesy. Young and old will see visions and dream dreams.

Whatever categories we set up – of gender, of age, of language and nationality, even of the work we do – the Spirit is blowing those walls down. No matter who we are. No matter what other people think of us. Even if we are seen as the lowest of the low. The Spirit blows freely and chooses to spread God’s love as widely as possible. Pentecost is the proof.

Jordan Haynie Ware

Pray

Uniting God, who has poured out your Spirit on all flesh: grant me the grace to surrender my desire for control and to trust the wind of your Spirit, which blows where it will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who blows down every barrier to your love. Amen.

Go

Breathe upon us, breath of God, young and old alike.

Send us forth, gifted with your power, to serve your people.