Consider the Word, May 20, 2021

 
Consider the Word, May 20, 2021
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Readings for May 23 – Pentecost

• Acts 2:1-21 Or Ezekiel 37:1-14
• Psalm 104:25-35, 37b
• Romans 8:22-27 Or Acts 2:1-21
• John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15

 
Collect

Almighty and everliving God,

who fulfilled the promises of Easter

by sending us your Holy Spirit

and opening to every race and nation

the way of life eternal,

keep us in the unity of your Spirit,

that every tongue may tell of your glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Readings: Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, the apostles were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs - in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine." But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'"

 
Reflection Questions

1. How would you characterize the wind of Pentecost (gentle, refreshing, cool, tornado-like)?
2. Does the Spirit comfort us, challenge us, advocate for us, or what?
3. What about the Spirit do people need to hear?

 
Closing Prayer

Creator Spirit and Giver of life,

make the dry, bleached bones of our lives

live and breathe and grow again

as you did of old.

Pour out your Spirit upon the whole creation.

Come in rushing wind and flashing fire

to turn the sin and sorrow within us

into faith, power, and delight. Amen.

 
The Message:

2 ^1-4 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

^5-11 There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were blown away. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;

Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,

    Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,

    Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;

Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes;

Even Cretans and Arabs!

“They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!”

¹² Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?”

¹³ Others joked, “They’re drunk on cheap wine.”

Peter Speaks Up

^14-21 That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:

“In the Last Days,” God says,

“I will pour out my Spirit

    on every kind of people:

Your sons will prophesy,

    also your daughters;

Your young men will see visions,

    your old men dream dreams.

When the time comes,

    I’ll pour out my Spirit

On those who serve me, men and women both,

    and they’ll prophesy.

I’ll set wonders in the sky above

    and signs on the earth below,

Blood and fire and billowing smoke,

    the sun turning black and the moon blood-red,

Before the Day of the Lord arrives,

    the Day tremendous and marvelous;

And whoever calls out for help

    to me, God, will be saved.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson