Miriam's Song
Listen to Sermons
Monday, May 21, 2012
Pentecost Year B
This Week’s Reflection
There
is something happening this week that has to do with our tongues. As I
read through all of the lectionary texts, something jumps out at me.
Should I say “shimmers at me”? Most of us know
very well the image used for the day of Pentecost found in the Acts
text – tongues of flame resting on each person gathered in that place. A
quick reading of the other texts will point us toward the use of
tongues in other ways as well. In this, I am not talking about the gift
of speaking in tongues, of which I know nothing about. I am suggesting
that God is trying to tell us something about the ways in which we use
our language, our ability to speak, and our physical tongues in this
world.
First,
a word about the Feast of Weeks or Shavuot, which was the event being
observed, the reason those disciples were gathered together in the first
place. Whether
the disciples were celebrating in ancient ways - giving thanks to God
for creation, harvests, and land - or observing a more contemporary
version of the feast and thanking God for the law, we know that the
observance of the feast was happening and had brought many people
together from all over the place.
The Spirit Dwelling on the Inside by Gina Hyatt |
Is
it any wonder that God chose this day of all days to allow those
disciples to experience this? As they gathered in thanksgiving to God
for all that God has provided and, most especially, for the Law of
Moses, God bursts onto the scene in a way that cannot be denied and gives
them a renewed sense of their calling to follow Christ and preach the
gospel. It is as if God says, “Open your mouths! Folks are listening.
Don’t stand here lifting up the law and ignoring the people. Tell the
story! Use your tongues!” Our tongues are very powerful
things!
One other thought I had about these tongues of flame resting on a head is that, should it literally happen,
it would be quite uncomfortable! I have a very funny image of one of
our TV evangelist sisters with lots of hairspray experiencing this. I
don’t think it would be a comforting moment at all.
So,
if receiving the Holy Spirit isn’t always a comfortable experience,
then it would seem that the ways in which we use our tongues will not
always be comfortable either. There may be times when God calls us to
say things to our brothers and sisters that aren’t easy. There may even
be times when we really want to say something to them, but God tells us
to shut our mouths and keep quiet. This is no new idea, of course, but
it is interesting to me to think about Pentecost as a day to remember,
not only the gift of the Holy Spirit and tongues of flame dancing on my
head, but also the ways in which Holy Spirit guides my own tongue and
its use. May it be so, God. May it be so!
Watch this incredible video from WorkingPreacher.org.