PENTECOST
Pentecost: A new day
Acts 2:6–11

The story of the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost is one of my favorite accounts from scripture. It's like one of those favorite stories you hear at a family reunion. You know that eventually somebody's going to tell it, and you run to hear it as if you've never heard it before.

When I was about eleven years old, my pastor asked me to read the lesson for Pentecost. He asked the Sunday after Easter, and as he showed me the text, he assured me that I would have plenty of time to learn all the names. My mom encouraged me to go to the library and find out more about the people and places these "foreign" names represented.

And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs — in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." (Acts 2:6–11)

 By the time I was fifteen, it had become my lesson to read. I could almost recite it from memory, and over those four years and five public readings I grew to deeply love this story and the power it possessed. I always felt like I was there, and better still, like I could accomplish anything from hearing it. I've come to realize that I felt this way because the day of Pentecost is when we too receive the power. It is the day when God lets us in on the plan and makes us full partners in the family business — to reconcile the world to God!

All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" (Acts 2:12)

It remains the million dollar question: "What does this mean?" Yes, it is awesome what happened to us and for us that day, but we can't stop with simply recounting the story once a year or so for that instant boost of power. What does it mean that I am filled with the Holy Spirit, that the Spirit gave me ability, or that I can hear clearly? These are not easy questions to answer, but wrestling with them and continuing to search for the answers brings us to a deeper and clearer understanding of God's overall plan for us.

Jesus gave his disciples instructions and a promise long before the fireworks began on Pentecost.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

All that we say and do now, as disciples and as stewards, is in response to these instructions and promise. Pentecost brings with it a new day for all of us.

Valora K Starr  is an associate for programs in the areas of global education, evangelism, and discipleship.