Acts 2:1-21; Rom. 8: 22-27; Jn. 15: 26-27, 16: 4b-15]
[Try reading the readings in this order: John, Acts, Romans = promise, event, outcome]
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Cartoon on Facebook (where else?): we’re in a church, just before the service is about to start.
Says the vicar to server A and server B: “In observance of the Triduum our sacristans and our verger will gather in the narthex, lucifer and thurible in hand, ready to extinguish the tabernacle light near the aumbry in the sanctuary, prior to the all night vigil in the columbarium following the Maundy Thursday eucharistic liturgy. Any questions?”
Whispers server B to server A: “Don’t worry. Stick with me, I speak Anglican!”
What language do we use in the Church?
Raise your hand if you're familiar with the term glossalia.
It means 'speaking in tongues', and it has been controversial since the Early Church.
In some places it’s considered a divine sign, and a dividing sign between those blessed, those chosen and those not.
When the Spirit 'falls' on you and you start speaking in tongues you must be 'a true believer’.
'True believer' is already a very dubious title.
Glossalia refers to our reading earlier, the narrative from the Book of Acts chapter two:
“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."
However, those groups that emphasise the practise tend to forget about two very specific and interesting verses, 8 and 10:
"And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?..in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”
'Native language' implies an existing language, not some made-up mix between Hebrew and Arabic that seemingly appears out of nowhere, which no one understands -though Saint Paul was very clear about the discernment of the spirits (i Cor. 12: 10).
‘Native language' implies an existing language; Saint Peter professed a message to the crowds which gripped their hearts and souls in words they understood.
What language do we in the Church use?
The Sunday between the Ascension and Pentecost is often called Orphan Sunday because once again the disciples felt as if Jesus had left them behind, abandoned them.
Once again there they were, huddled together in one place, in a house away from the world.
Then the Spirit came.
The Spirit came with some rather impressive special effects and shoved the disciples right back outside, to meet and address the crowds who had gathered.
In the tv series A.D. Kingdom and Empire the tongues of fire inspire the Apostles to pray the Lord’s Prayer in a variety of languages: it’s of course a great scene and a nice thought but we don’t know their exact words, we can only speculate.
Peter’s speech however has luckily been recorded.
The multitudes listening to him were far from homogenous, and most likely not all of them were Jews or proselytes.
There were people from all over the known world and locals as well, some were deeply moved and impressed, others made some rather snarky remarks.
A very varied bunch of people, just like we have in the Church.
Does the Church still speak peoples’ language?
Every group has its own jargon, its own words and terminologies outsiders don’t always understand, like in the joke at the beginning of the sermon.
That it’s not the problem, people can learn new words and expressions, even those pertaining to religion and theology, and they can learn those probably fairly easy and fairly quickly.
What we mean here is truly talking to the other.
Does the Church still have something to say?
How do we speak to people from all corners of the world, from all walks of life? Refugees, economic migrants, seekers, doubters, atheists, other religions, other creeds, other church denominations... how do we speak about them?
Are we going to be sealed off from the world, in silence, in exclusiveness, huddled behind closed doors as some denominations do because they expect everyone to be a ‘true believer’?
Or are we going to speak in a language which people understand and tell them about God, God's openness, God's nearness, God's understanding?
Will we go to the poor, the downtrodden, the despised, the lonely, those on the streets and those that are being ignored? Are we willing to be truly set aflame and speak to them, engage with them, invite them in to our churches, our homes, our countries?
One of the most important words in any language is undoubtedly the word ‘welcome’. Let’s say it over and over again!
Are we going to go out there spiritually embodying and physically representing that love of God, that 'falling' into the Spirit?
This has to happen in people’s own language -as with God- not garbled as if we’ve had too much new wine, not confusing them in a language that isn't our own nor theirs but in a language of hope, love and faith, time and time again?
It’s said that ‘sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me’.
Whoever came up with that was either being very brave or very naive.
Words do hurt and often more so than sticks and stones.
All of us are entitled to be spoken to and be spoken off with respect and kindness. That’s why we’re called to treat others with exactly the same curtesy and acknowledgement.
This includes words without sound also.
Each in our own language.
Did God not create by speaking?
And did everything in Creation not come into being through the Word?
Is the Word not Christ?
And is Christ not God?
Is God not love?
Therefore, the Word is love and our words, the words of the Church must be love also!
Our words must bring hope not despair.
Our words must declare love not hatred.
Our words must proclaim grace not judgement.
Our words must create not destroy.
This is why Pentecost should be a festival of communication, of interaction and of engaging with others, of stepping out of our comfort zone and thinking outside the box.
Often we in the Church don’t really know how to celebrate it, it all feels a bit vague, the Spirit seems literally intangible.
But to be welcoming doesn’t require much effort and doesn’t cost a thing.
Let’s be inspired today, inspired for others!
Veni, Creator Spiritus. Come, Holy Spirit, our souls inspire. Amen.