Week 21: Pentecost is Not Just About Wearing Red

This post if from a Guest Contributor, My Sister and Friend Ralen Robinson!

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

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.”

Pentecost is Not Just About Wearing Red

Growing up in the Church, my mom would take my sister and I shopping for the colors of the liturgical season. You see my sister and I were in the Church Choir, so our uniform would coincide with the seasons of the Church year. So, when the vestments and hangings would change, so would our attire. Our normal Black skirt and white top would be replaced with blues for Advent, purple for lent, green for Epiphany and red for Pentecost. I always remember red was tricky to find because of the weather we were in. So, as my mom drug my us (my sister and I) from store to store to store, all I really knew was that on Pentecost we wore red. Today, my friends, let me tell you that Pentecost is more than just wearing red. It is a day when the world was set on fire and the Holy Spirit came down upon us. It’s when the Holy Spirit demonstrates its divine presence through the signs of wind, fire, and speaking in tongues. So, explore with me this morning, the celebration of Pentecost.

Pentecost is a celebration that occurs 50 days after the ascension of Jesus and is a fulfillment of the promise Jesus gave us. Before Jesus was crucified, he told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would come after him. So, it is on this day that Jesus’s promise comes to light and it descends upon the people. In the Scripture, this morning we hear of the Holy Spirit appearing out of nowhere through a gust of wind and fire. The holy spirit not only permeated the space, but the people as well, wrapping them up and giving them the ability to speak in other languages.

Yet the people were baffled, the scripture calls them Devout Jews, not regular Jews, or sometimes faithful Jews but devout. This implies that they were the ones that were loyal in what they believe with every bit of their strength. They were the ones that did not waver, but stood strong. The scripture makes it a point to establish this so when the Holy spirit caused them to understand each other’s native language they were panicked, confused, and might I add thrown. But, what they don’t see initially is that the holy spirit brought them on one accord and all of them into this one place. This means they were united and shared similar thinking. Let’s be reminded that the devout Jews came from all parts of the land near and far, and settled in this one place in Jerusalem. It was not a mistake that this occurred. It wasn’t luck nor was it a coincidence. The spirit guided them to this space and when they were all there it revealed itself. It is manifested in them understanding one another as they talked about the power of God. And what a mighty God we serve. What I want to highlight is that they were having individual conversations about God. How many people know that the Church is not individualized, it’s not self-centered but community centered. They got so caught up in their own self that they didn’t see their sibling in Christ was standing right next to them. A person that didn’t look like them, talk like them, and act like them. They were different, so they must have worshiped some other God.

 I want you to turn to your neighbor and ask them, have you noticed your brother and sister today?

We seldom forget that our differences are what make up the beautiful stained-glass windows of the Church. No matter what color you are, what language you speak, what gender you identify with, where you live, who your daddy was, who your mama was… We are a part of the body of Christ.  Guided by the light, wrapped in the light so we need to embrace one another.

Yet in the midst of this occurring some doubted, and was in disbelief. They blamed it on being drunk, but my friends sometimes were just overtaken by the Lord. Has anyone ever been filled with the Holy ghost that they can’t contain it. Yet even amongst the devout they doubted. They blamed it on the wine, but my friends I’m here to tell you that it wasn’t the wine. It was the holy ghost. No matter how devout and faithful we are, we will waver and question, but that’s okay because we will get checked, we will get renewed, and we will strengthen. The people who had little faith was corrected by Peter. Peter contradicts that claim and sets them straight. He boldly stood up and corrected the tomfoolery.  He says don’t you remember what Joel says 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 it is that spirit that brought us here this morning in God's house to worship, proclaim and bask in the Glory of the promise. Like it did so many generations ago in Jerusalem. The text tells us it is the Church responsibility as a whole that we prophesy. Prophecy is truth-telling. It is naming the places and ways where God intervenes or initiates in the world. It is a part of proclaiming the word of God and identifying God's salvation at work. One is to bring God's activity through the scripture and their own personal life alive. Then are challenged with putting it in a way that people can understand. We put words into people's mouths, we assign words that we think people need or want, but yet that is not what you're called to do. You are called to hear their wants and needs and then cater the Word to them so they are more receptive.

You are called to embrace their differences and uplift it. Peter would suggest that the holy spirit sends us to equip us. That means it stays with us it does not strictly reside in the dwellings of the Church but surrounds all God’s children everywhere. Once we know that we are not alone and the spirit uses us so that we may be renewed and guided then one can know that we have to put it to a language people can understand. That scripture tells us that through adversity we are connected.

This is imperative especially in the dark times we live.  At a time when gun violence has gone rampant, our children’s lives are being taken by children themselves in the school house. Our young children are shot in the streets and laid to rest on the asphalt. We are placing our hopes in man-made materialistic things. We are chasing that fictional life of money, brands, and photo shopped images. The sign of the cross is worn for an accessory than that of a belief. People are being sinful under the guise of God, but operating under their own selfish needs. The world is broken, dark, messy, and at times seem hopeless.

So as the Church we are called to be the beacon of light. We are called to stand up and out. To be that soothing calm amidst the storm, the clarity between the mud-lines and that example. We are to walk in the footprints of Jesus, obeys God's law and be filled with the holy spirit.

Pentecost is not just about wearing red, but celebrating the holy spirit that descended upon us, wrapped us up and guided us out into the world to share the good news to all sorts of different type of people and to embrace their adversity. So, I ask you now as you read this sermon and change your red will its meaning and message remains or will it be discarded with that outfit?