Our scriptures this morning have an interested connection – in Genesis, it seems that God is trying to confuse people and interrupt communication; and in the Acts of the Apostles, it seems as though God is doing everything possible – and then some! – to make sure folks can connect with one another.
Some people may see this as a means to disconnect the Hebrew scriptures from the Greek scriptures – but that’s overlooking some contextual realities.
Let’s consider what’s happening in Genesis: the Tower of Babel!
The word Babel itself is a play on words with the locale of Babylon. Babel means to confuse… hence it not being the tower of Babylon, but of Babel.
So we need to ask ourselves – why would God want people to be confused and scattered, rather then comprehending and collected?
The answer: egos. The folks in this narrative have started to decide that they don’t need God anymore – they can do everything for themselves:
They can travel and eat, they can make their own bricks, they can build their own city. They have decided they don’t *need* God anymore.
And not just that, but they want to show God up – to publicly and definitively show God that they were better than God.
So the Tower was being built… not just as an architectural beacon, but to – in verse 4 – “make a name for ourselves.”
This is not just about reputation, as our present-day understanding addresses. This is about mastery. About being the supreme entity.
These folks want to make a name for themselves as a final act in rejecting God.
They are being defiant in saying NO to God.
And God comes and sees it and says – yup – they could do that… and more! But would that help them in the long run, if the entirety of the generation rejects God?
Obviously not. We know this. So God gives them a different experience – it’s not punitive – no one is hurt, no one suffers, no buildings are destroyed –
But they each get their own language, and they each get their own land, and they each get to discover new ways of living in the world that are healthier and more community-based, rather than the competitive and confrontational inevitabilities of the Tower.
God is actually helping the people in the long run.
And in the Acts of the Apostles, we see that God is again being active in how people comprehend God – by making sure that the message being delivered is not going to be lost in translation. And we all know there can be inaccuracies in translations –
Between languages: for example, the Spanish embarazada doesn’t mean embarrassed but pregnant – a substantial difference!
Or translations from one era to another: in Victorian English ‘awful’ meant full of awe – something amazing. Quite different to today’s usage.
And even words of the same language between cultures: a boot here is footwear, but in the UK it’s the trunk of a car.
Translations are imperfect. Misunderstandings can happen too easily.
And the message of God is too important to be lost in translation.
So God gives us the ability to hear this message in our own language: with the nuance that we need, and the subtleties that help us.
God speaks to us – in ways that we perfectly understand – so that we can say yes to God.
Now obviously not everyone wants to say yes to God: people have their own reasons. The folks watching this experience back in Jerusalem, where our Apostolic friends are sharing a meal around a table; that’s not insignificant, but table fellowship is a sermon for another time.
But some folks could not or would not believe the overwhelming goodness of God that was being offered them. So they said no to God.
They rejected the message, and not just the message, but they insulted those who were saying YES – they’re just drunk. Ignore them. It’s a rather immature act.
And Peter – bless Peter and his outspoken enthusiasm, when he boldly stands up and declares the power of God. What renewal of spirit for this man, who a mere 53 days ago verbally denied God – three times before the cock crowed – and is now standing up to say a profound and clear YES to God.
And thus, the nay-sayers – who were still treated with dignity and respect – removed themselves from the story. After all – in every time – the haters are going to hate – but we don’t have to engage in their negativity.
Instead, we embrace our own positivity – for it comes from God.
And this is what Pentecost is about: all of us, being reminded that wherever we are, and wherever we’re from – and wherever we’re going to: we are being invited to say YES to God.
For God is blowing us in different directions, to do different things, that will always share the love of God.
And I love that imagery of being blown – the sound of wind, the inspiration of flame – we are blown towards ministry.
It reminds me of a time some years ago – a friend was visiting from Kenya, and we went for a relaxing walk. Part way through, William asked what the GORGEOUS flowers were, and how they had been planted – for he was overwhelmed with joy at the bright yellow blossoms all over the yard. Yes – this man was thrilled by dandelions. He saw them as a spring gift from God, to brighten the day.
And we found a few that were at that perfect stage of whiteness, where that perfect sphere of seeds is just waiting to be blown into the wind… He was delighted to watch them blow: with that child-like joy and wonder at the beauty that was before him. He commented on how easy it was to spread that joy of new growth, new life, with a simple gust of wind. Well, you can imagine the look on his face when I explained our cultures’ feelings about dandelions.
But he choose to keep the joy: to focus on the positive, to appreciate those splashes of colour, to see in those dandelions an intentionally created gift from God.
So for him, the blowing in the many directions was an act of sharing in God’s beauty. And as we spoke about the many uses and purposes of dandelions – his joy continued.
He said yes to God, as part of his ministry throughout his life was as a bringer of joy.
And he wanted to be as prolific as the dandelions, in saying yes to new opportunities to allow the Spirit to blow seeds of grace, seeds of love, seeds of holiness to brighten our world.
So again, let’s recognise this Pentecost that God is blowing US –
To positive and healthy ways of BEing the church.
And God is speaking to us in ways that we understand, in ways that will stir us up, in ways that are simple or complex, easy or hard, immediate or longer term.
The spirit is blowing – she’s always blowing! Our opportunity to to determine how we will answer YES to God’s invitation.
So how is God calling you?
How will you say YES to God?
You may tell a friend about church and invite them to worship with us;
you may phone a friend or pray with someone who’s struggling.
You can offer hospitality to a neighbour – or equally to a stranger.
You could volunteer in the community, or get involved with our ministries!
You could sing with our choir, you could knit a prayer shawl.
You can support the food bank or Second Story –
you can respond to the needs of someone right in front of you.
You can smile, you can support justice initiatives, you can choose to perpetuate positivity.
you can learn about environmental protections we can all participate in.
This week, the Spirit blew – HARD! as many of you ABUNDANTLY shared for the resettlement of a Ukrainian family in our community.
We can do our best – every day – to live out our baptismal vows – parsing out our formal YES to God. For the opportunities are endless to say yes to loving God’s people, and God’s world.
We can say YES to God. To the opportunities that God is sharing, to the nudging as we explore our active inter-relationship with God.
For we are not here by accident: God has put us here.
And we are not here alone: God has brought us together.
And we are not here as spectators: God has equipped us ALL for ministry.
And for this we thank God: the God who blows away our apathy, who lights a fire under us, whose very breath fills our bodies and souls with the energy of BEing the church.
So let us BE: active, faithful, empowered, and energised:
Let us be the people of God, saying YES to God. Amen.
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