One could argue that the story of Pentecost really began a few thousand years prior to the Christian Pentecost, namely on the occasion of the building of the tower at Babel.

Remember the story of how all peoples of the (then-known?) world came together to create a monument for ourselves, to build a tower that would touch the heavens. So determined and arrogant were the people that God had no choice but to confuse their languages--the beginning of diverse language and cultural groups, according to Genesis.

At Pentecost God reversed what happened at Babel: miraculously people understood the words that came out of the mouths of Peter and the disciples each in their own native language. Consider for a moment two similar and yet so different congregations--the one gathering at Babel and the disciples meeting in the upper room at Jerusalem. Both of these congregations had gathered in harmony with a common purpose.  Both of these congregations had lofty goals.  Yet the gathering at Babel resulted in the erection of barriers, while the one at Jerusalem resulted in the overcoming of barriers.

            Both congregations were reaching for the heavens.  The people at Babel wanted to do so in order to make a monument for themselves.  But the people gathered in the upper room stretched out their hands to heaven in prayer.  The first group of people was relying on their own power, the second group was waiting for power from on high--God's power.  The first group ended up with tremendous communications barriers, the second group found that through the power of God, language barriers can be broken down. In a sense these two stories tell the tale of the fact that humanity needs God to be in control.  We all need to look beyond ourselves--to

God—for help, especially if we are to ever overcome the devastating ethnic, racial, political, social and economic barriers in the world.  These barriers divide us, keep us apart, cause strife, bitterness, hatred, and wars.  One only needs to open a newspaper to realize that fact.

At the original Christian Pentecost the Spirit of God caused the miracle of language.  Whether it was a miracle of speaking or hearing what is important is that people heard and understood the good news of God without communication barrier.  It is interesting that language seems to be the fallout line along which geographical, cultural, ethnic, political, and sometimes even religious boundaries are drawn.

Perhaps the deeper Pentecostal message is that the miracle of overcoming the language barrier can result in the overcoming of all barriers.  May God fill us once again with this Spirit of overcoming.  May we all be Spirit-filled instruments of peace and restoration in this season of Pentecost., which, by the way, begins on  Mother’s Day, May 11, this year.  Such an appropriate time to focus on peace and restorative love.

Shalom,