Homily Preview 05/28/2023

Grace Chicago Church

I took quite a few Spanish classes in high school and college. At one time I could read a Spanish language newspaper with reasonable comprehension. Sadly, I have lost - for now - much of what I knew. I still make a feeble, yet sincere effort, to say something that might be comprehensible to those I know or meet who speak Spanish as their native tongue. I especially try very hard when I can tell the person doesn’t speak English at all.

What always amazes me is how gracious folks are when I say something to them, however imperfectly, in the language of their birth. Beyond being gracious, I think most folks are genuinely moved by the gesture (something I don’t alway think about). Hearing someone speak to you in the language of one's birth is the phrase that the people use to describe the miracle that occurs while they are listening to Peter preach on the day that we now call Pentecost Sunday.

To be sure, Pentecost is a story of the Spirit’s power in the miraculous event itself. But the way to understand its fullness is by seeing how it fits into Luke’s overall story of a new humanity wherein a diverse group of people retain their diversity while uniting to each other through the gift of the Spirit.