| The images of Pentecost that readily come to mind are fire as tongues of flame, rushing wind, and the disciples speaking in languages other than their own. As we explore the entire story of Pentecost we find proclamation (Peter’s famous sermon), repentance, baptism, and a community formed around faithful practices shaping our story of the birth of the church of Jesus Christ. The actions and symbols of this event have been a part of the church ever since this day.
The story begins and ends with God. God initiated
the gathering through the outpouring of the Spirit and continues to add to the number as chapter two of Acts closes. In the middle is a community being formed around the Word proclaimed, baptism, prayers, breaking of bread, and offering. The story of Pentecost is not just a single event. It is the establishment of the way of life for those who follow the risen Christ.
This church began as a gathering of people from different lands, languages, and cultures. The symbols
and actions of Pentecost, which continue to sustain the church throughout history, bring unity in Christ to all who participate in them. At the heart of community is the daily engagement with God’s Word and sacramental practice, which lead to prayer, shared mission, offering, and thanksgiving. The actions and symbols of the church were born in a multicultural context and meant to sustain this way of being followers of Christ throughout time. The multicultural nature of this event goes beyond language. It is also embodied in the sacramental actions of the gathering assembly. In baptism all have become one in Christ and are supported by the faithful through shared giving and prayer. The daily breaking of bread demonstrates the unity in Christ and a particular way of living in community. “They gave to each other as any had need and ate their food together with glad and generous hearts.” These are witnesses to the community’s unity in both ritual and practice. The Spirit of God working through these rituals both initiates and nurtures this unity. Moreover, these actions were born in a multicultural context and were intended to sustain a multicultural church.
It has been popular to use different languages in worship on Pentecost. That is faithful to the story, but perhaps we should also accentuate the multicultural images of baptism and the breaking of bread. Reaffirmation of the baptismal covenant on Pentecost can allow us to reclaim our unity in Christ through water and the Spirit, that is, a unity that transcends all cultural boundaries. By following a reaffirmation of the baptismal covenant with the Lord’s Supper, we can give a fuller expression of the Pentecost story and how this story shapes our lives today. We are all one, no matter what our ethnic identity may be, for it is one loaf of which we partake and one baptism that we share. |
