Wind, Fire, Words

"Peace I leave with you;

my peace I give to you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled,

and do not let them be afraid."

(from John 14)

PENTECOST!!!

Wind! 

Tongues of Fire on people! 

Speaking and understanding foreign languages!

Preaching to thousands of people!

Pentecost Sunday, one of the most important celebrations for Christians, is the birthday of the church.

It's no wonder Pentecost Sunday is marked with images of red as Sunday School children create red crafts; as people wear red; and red banners and streamers hang around the church.

What a day that must have been!

That was then, this is now.

John's Gospel is very different from all this energy and action. 

Here Jesus talks about peace "not as the world gives". 

Jesus' peace is an inner peace keeping our hearts from being troubled and afraid.

Being in touch with inner peace during our troubled, fearful times is essential.

However, I believe Jesus means more than an inner peace to calm our souls so he says he doesn't give as the world gives.

If Pentecost is the birthday of the church, we are to be communities of peace which requires strength. 

The Holy Spirit inspires us in being the church reaching as an alternative society. 

For example, The Holy Spirit inspired a much larger church near ours to donate diapers, monthly, to our "Baby Blessings" ministry. 

Or, a woman in another church was inspired by the Spirit to begin a Thrift Shop designed for the low-income people in the neighborhood.

Another person, inspired by the Spirit, began a ministry to people with AIDS in the community.

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on the gathered crowd.

Today, the Holy Spirit continues inspiring us to become communities of peace living as an alternative to the powers of injustice and domination.

There are no tongues of fire, no wind, no foreign languages.

Instead, the Holy Spirit inspires ordinary Christians to acts of compassion.