Monday, June 1, 2020

Listening to Pentecost




Lord Christ,

I’m wondering if we miss the message or meaning of Pentecost. It’s not about the rushing wind and tongues of fire. It’s not about speaking in tongues. It’s not even about a sudden proficiency with foreign languages.

These miraculous happenings obscure the real significance of Pentecost:

That the Holy Spirit enabled diverse peoples to understand one another!

That it wasn’t so much about speaking as it was about listening!

O that your Spirit would come upon us, rest powerfully upon us, that we would become better listeners, that we would better understand one another...with a heightened empathy.

Then, with fresh insights and new friends, inspire us to a noble and holy cause.

Amen.