"I ask for the desire, and focus to pray and meditate regularly. I ask for patience, gentleness, tolerance, compassion and empathy. I as k to abstain from anger, anxiety, shame, discouragement, and compulsive behaviour. I ask to know Jesus more intimately, love him more deeply, and follow him more closely. I ask to know myself and others as Christ knows us, as make in the image and likeness of God. Today I am so very grateful for a sense of enthusiasm and joy in the ministry to which I have been called."
Acts 2:1-13
2When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ 13But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’
1) "...together;" "...the rush of a violent wind;" "...each of them;" "...all of them;" "...the spirit gave them ability;" "...every nation;" "...amazed and astonished;" "...Jews and proselytes;" "amazed and perplexed."
2) I hear the universality of the text and the gift of the spirit - every last one of them gathered received the gift/ability. It caused amazement, astonishment and being perplexed. It came to Jews from every nation and proselytes alike. Everyone gathered in Jesus' name received and participated. Everyone is given some gift/ability. Not just "the leaders." How do I draw that out? How do we draw out leadership in our community? How do we help every member of our communion discern, own, and share their spirit given gifts: financial, intellectual, spiritual, physical, emotional, inspirational? How do we summon all we've been given to the table to be put to use in the service of God?
3) What is the invitation in all this? to continue sitting with these questions. To share these questions with Trinity and see what they have to say about them - these are some of the adaptive questions we've been talking about.
"Holy One, help us to bear witness to the abundant ways you have equipped us for service."
Breathprayer: "Amazed and astonished... amazed and perplexed."
Please feel free to ask questions, or share what you are praying for.
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