A Reflection For the Season of Pentecost
FROM THE DESK OF IELA GALIANO-WILLIAMS
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them….
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.
Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’ Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’
Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’" - ACTS 2:1-13
What a wild story!
If you were to put yourself in the shoes of this crowd, how do you think you might have responded? In this scriptural account, it seems like the overwhelming majority were either amazed, perplexed, or judgmental.
And honestly, doesn't that feel like it sums up the chasm of the comment section on a social media post?
As we transitioned into the season of Pentecost on June 8th, I reread this passage of scripture, and the crowd's response stuck out to me. Particularly how it notes that there were those who dismissed what they were seeing as a product of “too much wine.”
It made me start to wonder if their are places in my life where God might be inviting me to be amazed and excited, but I am showing up dismissive and skeptical.
Now, a healthy amount of skepticism isn't bad! Scripture does also encourage us to be wary of wolves in sheep's clothing. However, time and time again God works in mysterious ways.
How might we allow God to open our eyes to where He is working, even if it is in a way that is difficult to understand? To lean into joy and trust over judgment?
Perhaps the celebration of Pentecost can be a place to start pondering and open up this conversation with God. How might God want to amaze us?
Looking for more spiritual formation? Now is the time to reserve your spot in our upcoming cohort programs! We’d love to see you there :)