2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a noise came from heaven. It sounded like a strong wind blowing. This noise filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw something that looked like flames of fire. The flames were separated and stood over each person there. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages. The Holy Spirit was giving them the power to do this.
I love the wind. It’s one of my favorite things, so this imagery here is one that has great meaning for me. Imagine how this wind filled not just the whole room but the whole building! It wasn’t just where you are standing near a window and can feel it, but the whole entire house! It filled every nook and cranny. And then the flames. It wasn’t just one flame over the house but individual flames over each person. In my mind the wind pulled them together as one and the flames singled them out as individuals as they were filled with the Holy Spirit. And they each began to speak in different languages. Different languages but the same message. They used different words that all had the same meaning. Elohim, Allah, Diu, Teut, Dieu, Theos, Deus, Sire, God… The list goes on and on. The same word in different languages. Diversity and Unity all at once. We can have both. And maybe we were meant to so that we can reach in the far corners of the earth to share his love with everyone.
Loving God, Diversity sometimes scares us. Fill us with your spirit both wind and flame that we might see all things through your eyes. Amen.
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