Come Holy Spirit

Tomorrow, in our reading from Acts we hear of the coming of The Holy Spirit to Jesus' disciples. The Rev. Gerald A. Skillicorn wrote an article in The Living Church this week noting that "Nowhere in the passage does it say that the apostles were given the ability to communicate the gospel in foreign languages. In fact, it does not say that they spoke foreign languages." Skillicorn points out that it was the hearing of those on that first Pentecost which was inspired. As he puts it, "It is quite clear that the miracle is in hearing, not speaking."

I know that God still inspires how we hear the Good News of Jesus being proclaimed. A recent King of Peace sermon noted that every preacher depends upon The Holy Spirit's inspiration on the words that are heard even more than on the words preached.

Jesus said several times when teaching, "He who has ears, let him hear." Then in Matthew 13:15 Jesus says,

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.

Those with hardened hearts can not receive the healing Jesus wants to bring. It is when we open our hearts to God, inviting God into our lives yet again, our hearts are softened. Then the Holy Spirit is able to give us the ears to hear that still small voice of God. As long as we are open to the Spirit's presence, God's voice can come through in any language and in every setting. Is your heart open to hearing God speak?

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
—adapted from Psalm 46:10 by Don Postema