Acts 2:1-21
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 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. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 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 to 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.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 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.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Reflection
Think of it! Think of the pouring out and the flow. Think of how it runs all over the place. Think of pouring something on a bunch of people. It would run over them, down them, off of their feet and all over the surface they are standing upon, down that surface to any who may walk that way. Now, think of God's Spirit poured out on the people. God's Spirit covering anyone and everyone as the Spirit flows. Yes, God poured out God's Spirit upon all flesh. The people walking in the Cloud of the Spirit of God and surrounded by the love of the Spirit. No, more than just surrounded, enveloped by the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is for everyone, not just some, but everyone... all flesh.
And then the results. As the baby cries in baptism, the old man hears the voice of God speaking a love so deep and so wonderful. You too, old man, are my child. You too, are the one I love. Hear my cry from the spirit of this baby as the Spirit of God shouts out acceptance and love. Both baby and old man are chosen and loved and gifted with the Spirit to proclaim the love of God through Christ Jesus. No, the old man, the long time disciple of Christ are not drunk and neither is the baby. They are not drunk, but they are called, loved and gifted with the blessings of the Father, the determination of the Son, and the gifts of the Spirit, to live out life telling all God gives to them to call on the name of the Lord.
And all will hear and understand this Word spoken. All will come to see and hear and decide or just to be taken. All will be drawn in a dilemma to...
"All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’"
So what do you think? Wine or the Spirit of God?
Cry, baby cry... cry old man cry... cry Spirit cry... cry out the love of God!
Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afn-tH5dV8E
Prayer
Lord, use my lips this day to cry in the joy of your Spirit what you have done for all the world... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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