Sermon by Pr. Michelle Sevig on the Day of Pentecost + May 19, 2024
Do you speak more than one language? I wish I did, but I don’t. Not that I haven’t tried. In 7th-8th grade, I took German as my required language course. I still have the construction paper and photo-heavy report I did on Miene Familie, but sadly, I do not recall how to speak any of it. I’ve taken Intro to Spanish classes 5 different times, but, “Hola mi amiga” is about as far as I get in a conversation. Norweigan during my first year of college? I remember how to ask Georg if he’s married, from the memorized dialogs in the textbook. And when he responds, “No, no one will have me.” Anna, says, “O si ikka dei” or Oh, don’t say that. Biblical Greek and ancient Hebrew in seminary did not fare any better.
Now my daughter, on the other hand, has been in French class since she was in kindergarten. In addition, she does Duolingo every single day and has uninterrupted daily streak of one thousand four hundred and four days. It’s pretty impressive. But her French really improved when she studied in France for a month and lived with a family who spoke only French during their long, leisurely dinners.
If you are bilingual, you know there is nothing easy about substituting one language for another. Languages are intricate and messy. It’s never just a word-for-word translation but involves nuance and understanding of the respective cultures, histories, psychologies, and spiritualities. To attempt one language instead of another is to make oneself a learner. It’s an act of exploration and hospitality.
The apostles in today’s scripture reading from Acts did not have the benefit of the Duo Lingo app or an intro to Spanish in high school. They each came to the festival of Pentecost with their own languages, spiritual traditions, cultural expectations, and religious rituals. “Pentekostos” a Greek word that means fiftieth was a Jewish festival celebrating the spring harvest. In the New Testament story, the Holy Spirit descended on the believers on the fiftieth day after Jesus’ resurrection. The spirit empowered them to testify to Jesus’ impact on their lives.
But here’s the kicker. All of them, filled with the Holy Spirit, began to speak in their own languages. And at this sound, the crowd gathered and was bewildered because they heard all the different languages being spoken, yet each one understood what was being said in their own language.
Can you imagine being at a party where people were speaking in Spanish, Polish, Urdu, Cantonese, Arabic, Norwegian, Greek, and you could tell it was the distinct language of that person’s mother tongue, BUT you could understand it in your own language? No translators or interpreters are needed at all. You too might think everyone was drunk if such a miracle happened in your presence.
Theologian Debi Thomas writes about the birth of the church on this Pentecost day, and says, “What the crowds found baffling in this Pentecost story from Acts, was that God-the Holy Spirit- would condescend to speak to them in their own mother tongues. That God would welcome them so intimately, with words and expressions harkening back to their birthplaces, their childhoods, their beloved cities, countries and cultures of origin. As if to say, ‘This Spirit-drenched place, this new body of Christ is yours. You don’t have to feel like outsiders here; we speak your language too. Come in. Come in and feel at home.’
What I love about the first Pentecost story is that it required surrender and humility on both sides. Those who spoke had to brave languages beyond their comfort zones. They had to risk vulnerability in the face of difference, and do so with no guarantee of welcome. They had to trust that no matter how awkward, inadequate, or silly they felt, the words bubbling up inside of them — new words, strange words, scary words — were nevertheless essential words — words precisely ordained for the time and place they occupied.
Meanwhile, the crowd who listened had to take risks as well. They had to suspend disbelief, drop their cherished defenses, and opt for curiosity and wonder instead of fear and contempt. They had to widen their circles, and welcome strangers with accents into their midst.”
As we celebrate Pentecost today we are empowered to do the same. Filled with the Holy Spirit, we too are invited to widen the circle, to risk vulnerability in the face of difference, no matter how awkward, inadequate or silly we might feel.
Pentecost is a story for our time. We live in a world where words have become toxic, where the languages of our cherished "isms" threaten to divide and destroy us. If we don't learn the art of speaking across the borders that separate us, we will burn ourselves down to ash.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to speak God’s love language in a hurting world. The confirmands will be asked today if they intend to continue in the covenant God made with them in holy baptism, to live among God’s faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the lord’s supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth. When they answer yes to the spirit’s calling, it is our opportunity as well to say yes too.
Yes to a language of love for all people. Yes to a language of community building and fellowship. Yes to the language of prayer, reverence, and hospitality. Yes to the language of advocacy and service. Yes to a language of peace and welcome.
To speak these languages and live in this way, there is no required course or final exam. Instead, the Holy Spirit is poured into us as she was to those first apostles in this Spirit-drenched place, into this body of Christ. Where no one is an outsider and everyone is welcome.
The confirmands have learned this language well. I asked the students what’s the main takeaway from their two years of study and they each responded in their own way, in their own accent so to speak, that “God loves us more than we can imagine. That no matter what, God is on our side, and will love and forgive us throughout our lives. And that we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the same.” Thanks be to God for the outpouring of God’s spirit among them and among us, this Pentecost day and always. Amen.