A Poem a Sunday

Pentecost

May 15, 2016

Commentary:  It is too bad that we do not list the New Testament Canon in the following order:  Matthew, Mark, Luke-Acts, John.  Acts of the Apostles is Volume II - a continuation of Luke’s Gospel.  Luke portrays Jesus as turning his face toward Jerusalem.  Luke’s Gospel is ‘Countdown to Jerusalem.’  The reverse happens in Acts – the rocket is taking off – ‘Countdown to the World.’  

The community was in fear until they were blown away by the Spirit.  Acts of the Apostles is really the Gospel of the Holy Spirit.  Thus the poem – Pentecost Today – we live in our religious ghettoes – churchly silos – inert – circling the wagons – the Spirit will not let that happen.

Acts 2:1-21 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ² 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.³ Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. ⁴ All 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. ⁶ And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.⁷ Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”¹² All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³ But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd

¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. ¹⁶ No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

¹⁷ ‘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.
¹⁸ Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
        and they shall prophesy.
¹⁹ And I will show portents in the heaven above
    and signs on the earth below,
        blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
²⁰ The sun shall be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood,
        before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
²¹ Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

A Poem a Sunday

Pentecost

May 15, 2016

Pentecost Today

In the ecclesiastical ghetto

walls are very high,

the people are white.

In the ecclesiastical ghetto

the congregation is safe,

knows the true light.

Yet in the wilderness:

a breeze blowing free,

a gathering storm,

a wild entity.

She is more than nature.

She is forming to destroy

all ghettos that confine grace,

that in safety ignore:

the prophets and the dreamers,

the women and the men

shouting:  “Justice and mercy!

- God’s people now extend.”

The Spirit formed twister

is here, now, today.

Breaking up any ghetto

that has forsaken the Way.

Comfortable pews full of people;

all the same.  Nevermore!

For the Spirit is alive

and is blasting opening the door.

The steeples we know,

the edifices so secure

will be leveled to the ground,

God’s Kingdom will endure.

‘A Poem a Sunday’

Copyright kennstorck@gmail.com

May be used with permission