Can you imagine this … The United Nations has gathered
as whole to hear about the problems of the world, war, famine, religious
difference; the leaders of North and South Korea, the USA, Israel and Palestine all are in the one room, and as they gather and the interpreters begin their work of
translating the vast numbers of different languages, a mist fills the building
and when it lifts, it is slowly realised that all the delegates can understand
each other. They have an understanding and respect that is beyond mere speech. Not only do they appear to be speaking the same tongue, but they
can really understand each other’s perspectives and dreams. Into the crowded
chamber comes a feeling of real wonder and awe and a profound sense of hope.
We are in the Christian season of Pentecost and in
this Season, Christians are reminded that the Spirit of God seeks to draw us
closer to each other and to God. At the first Pentecost, there was a strange
sort of event, where people from all corners of the then known world found
themselves speaking in the same language. Though they were different, they
understood each other.
This is the sort of community that God wants and this
is the activity of the Spirit of God; to draw us closer to each other; to make
the stranger a friend and to love the neighbour, who may well be different to
us. But this sort of Spirit love does not always come easy or cheap. When those
around you are telling you to hate it takes a divine power to move towards
love.
The work of Pentecost is one of profound miracle and
hopefulness. It is a dream of a Spirit that can draw us closer, can assist us
to truly know each other’s pain and dreams, and can draw us closer to a vision
of a compassionate world, and to believe this despite what we may see in the news and hear around us. Let us pray for the gift of such a Spirit and know
her presence in our midst.
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