By Sr. Doreen, SSJD
“When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force – no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building.” (Acts 2: 1-2 Message Translation)
On a very windy day in Victoria, BC I stood on Dallas Road and took this picture of the Ogden Point breakwater. At the time it reminded me of the many references in scripture where there were mighty winds that introduced people to messages from God. In God’s actions of ‘coming down’ (like rushing wind) both at Pentecost in Acts 2 and in Genesis 11, the story of the Tower of Babel, we see tremendous changes taking place in God’s actions as a strong tower for the people, for us, of safety and security.
Last year on Pentecost Sunday as I was reflecting on the scripture, I found myself comparing God’s actions on Pentecost where the disciples began speaking in “a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them … and people of different languages understood them” with the passage from Genesis where God comes down to the “one people of one language … and garbles their speech so that they cannot understand one another”. It seemed to me then, and it still seems to me now, and perhaps even more so today, that there is a great deal to ponder in comparing these two ‘actions’ of God.
In our world today social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter (X), YouTube and many other social media platforms have provided unprecedented opportunities for self-promotion and for building personal and corporate platforms for their own fame. We have been only too aware of this in the video media news while the President of the United States makes and changes policies and statements that have created untold confusion, chaos and hardship globally. The desire to be known, admired, and celebrated can lead people down a path that excludes God, the gospel values, and the Micah challenge of loving mercy, doing goodness, and walking humbly with God. Seeking fame while ignoring everything but our own ways was the powerful reminder to us in the story of the Tower of Babel. Wanting to build a country for their own name and to glorify something called “America First” at the expense of others … God will step in when we try to build a world that excludes the ways and values of God.
The chaos that it causes is that we begin to drift further and further apart, we do not understand each other, we are too busy crying ‘notice me’. We see the results in wars, the tensions, the unrest, the poverty, homelessness, anger and violence that are so prevalent in the world today. All of this can become a false god, a tyrant, and the end result is that it could destroys us.
In the midst of all this, (a time of polycrisis, too many competing crises affecting our lives), comes the Pentecost message, of our unity as a community, as a world where all are bound together in God’s love, everyone hearing the message of God’s tenacious and unconditional, inclusive love, in their own language. Everyone hears and understands. The Pentecost message, as depicted in the Bible, centers on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, empowering believers to share the love of Jesus and build a unified community, transcending divisions and proclaiming God’s message to the world. As the conversation in Charlie Mackesy’s book “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” goes “When dark clouds come … keep going. When big things feel out of control focus on what you love right under your nose. This storm will pass.”
It may seem harder and harder to feel connected with each other, but it is so true that we are encouraged to focus on what we love right under our nose. The Spirit is alive and active amongst us, as we look around, we can see it in action, in the caring and sacrificial outreach of so many – in the caring acts of mercy and compassion. There is a deep longing for a deeper spirituality and understanding, there are examples of bold discipleship and daring justice at work around us and in the world. There are signs of change. It is true that as the conversation continues in Charlie’s book: “We have such a long way to go,” said the boy. “Yes, but look how far we’ve come,” said the horse.
Pentecost is a testament to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit’s ability to unite diverse people in love. We are living in turbulent times — politically, ecologically, socially and spiritually. But amid this chaos, Pentecost offers us a beacon of hope. It reminds us that we can overcome our differences and work together for the greater good. It’s a call to unity, a reminder of our shared humanity that transcends all divisions. It’s a call to find ways to bridge the gaps dividing us and to build a more harmonious society — locally and internationally.
Overwhelmed? Remember “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” (Archbishop Desmond Tutu)
Today, Pentecost, it is important that we celebrate and dance for joy, as we feel the winds of God on our faces and the flames of love in our hearts bringing us together in celebration and unity. It is in celebration and dance that we can move forward, in constant companionship with God, knowing how far we have come.
In the hymn book “Sing a New Creation”, Anglican Church of Canada there is a hymn I would like to share which I found helpful in meditation called “We Sing a Love that Sets All People Free” #163 (Text: June Boyce-Tillman; Music: Alfred Morton Smith):
“We sing a love that sets all people free, that blows like wind, that burns like scorching flame,
Enfolds the earth, springs up like water clear: come, living love, live in our hearts today.
We sing a love that seeks another’s good, that longs to serve and not to count the cost,
A love that, yielding, finds itself made new: come, caring love, live in our hearts today.
We sing a love, unflinching, unafraid to be itself, despite another’s wrath,
A love that stands alone and undismayed: come, strengthening love, live in our hearts today.
We sing a love that, wandering, will not rest until it finds its way, its home, its source,
Through joy and sadness pressing on refreshed: come, pilgrim love, live in our hearts today.
We sing the Holy Spirit, full of love, who seeks our scars of ancient bitterness,
Bring to our wounds the healing grace of Christ: come, radiant love, live in our hearts today.”
