The record of Pentecost in Acts paints a vivid scene – a powerful wind, tongues of fire, miraculous speech enabling the apostles to reach a pan-national audience in a way the hearers could immediately understand.
Fast forward to today, we might be less impressed with the gift of speech. From every corner of the globe, we are bombarded with words and pictures, that we handily consume from screens, downloaded at speeds unimaginable just a decade ago. Language takes a backseat to access to digital communications. When overseas, no longer do I need to know the local language to get by; I just need Wi-Fi.
However, buried at the heart of the Pentecost record is what I find most impressive: twelve mostly uneducated men, who had till then been holding themselves up in a private room for fear of the Jewish authorities, went out and openly proclaimed the marvels of God to a multitude of people gathered for the festival. Right in the centre of Jerusalem.
Where does such courage and zeal come from? Why do I not feel as compelled to proclaim God’s wonders over social media, in my conversations at work and at home, or in what I devote my time to? Is it because I actually do not properly understand what we believe? What is the fear about?
Pentecost was when the Church was filled with the Holy Spirit, a spirit of sons, and sent out to the world to bring Jesus’s peace, joy and forgiveness to all people. On this day, let us recall our commission to go and make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19) and make firm plans to make God known to one more person this week.
Written by: Vincent Ong