Scripture/Sermon of the Day

2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

I. First — if we want to know what Pentecost is — what it means — how do we do that? We go to our computer and Google it. Wikipedia says Pentecost comes from the Greek word, pentēkostē, which is translated as “fiftieth.” Because it is a Christian holiday that takes place on the 50th day after Easter.

II. But Google and Wikipedia can’t tell us what it means. Or if it makes any difference in how we live the rest of today — or the rest of our lives. And thank goodness — because if Google or Wikipedia or Artificial Intelligence could interpret scripture — YOU WOULDN’T NEED ME!!!!!

III. Eventually I guess our computers and I-Phones WILL interpret the Bible — but I hope not until after I retire —and God knows when that will happen. Moses didn’t retire till he was 120!

IV. In the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church traditions, this day is as important as Easter and Christmas. And to understand why, recall some of what Jesus said:

And “Now I will send the Holy Spirit, as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” (Luke 24:49). Pentecost is about the Holy Spirit coming into our lives and CHANGING US INTO CHRIST.

V. Jesus has been sending clues — messages — throughout his ministry — maybe most powerfully at the wedding he attended at Cana — that if we made him a part of our lives — he would make us a part of his. That miracle he did at Cana was a — demonstration — of the miracle that would happen in us as we continued to walk with him. Like water transformed to wine — we are transformed into Jesus. We might look the same — and we will continue to age and probably go to the doctor more often, like everyone else. As we become more like Jesus, we’ll probably still have our personalities —

Paul Furgalack, as he becomes more like Jesus, will still tell his jokes. Like when he recently went to Quest to have blood tests done, he brought two red crayons with him and gave them to the nurse who was assigned to him. She said, “What are these for? Why are you giving me these crayons?” Paul said, “So you can draw my blood.” So — Paul is becoming Jesus, year by year — but he’s still going to tell these corny jokes.

And anyone who’s known John Kasarauskas over the years can see it too — there’s a lot of Jesus coming into focus in him. But no matter how much he’s born again — he’s still going to make our pancakes.

And Debbie Laffin — Jesus and the Holy Spirit are so bright in her, we can’t look at her without sunglasses. But she’s still going to organize all these Souperbowl luncheons and Pot-Luck Salads and Cafe Church and Apple Festivals. And no matter how much she’s born again — she’s still going to call us asking for help with one of these events. And we can’t say no to her because we know what happened to Sodom and Gomorah!

VI. So this day, Pentecost, is important for us — because it’s something, really, that happens every day. Every day is Pentecost. Flames of fire are dancing on top of our heads right now, and they will be tomorrow. And that mighty wind of the Holy Spirit — it's blowing through here right now — And I’m sure it’s blowing through the rooms where each of you are watching us on zoom — even if the windows are closed.

And like the Bible says — it doesn’t matter what language we speak, or where we’re from, or how we dress, or the food we eat, or our age, or skin color. Because THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES US ALL ONE, GOD’S CHILDREN.

Does that mean the Holy Spirit will be poured out on all people who do good? Yes. And “bad” people too? Yes -- every person will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit? — Because we're all God's children -- God loves all of us.

VIII. If it takes another two thousand years — or ten thousand — for everyone to become Christ — fine. But it will happen. Eventually, everyone will “love one another as Jesus loved each one of us.”

We here today are especially blessed — because for us, that time of fulfillment is already happening. “Loving one another as Jesus loved us,” has become our way of life. And for others, it will happen. And all we can say is “Dear God, thank you!”