Three new resources, published each week - helping you connect the Bible passages with what's happening in the world right now.

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In touch

Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

What does this mean?

The question (Acts 2.12) is answered by Peter’s quoting an 800-year-old prophecy.

Context and ideas for sermons and talks

True monotheism developed not in the ancient kingdom of David, but later, during the privations of the exile. Its most beautiful expression is found in Isaiah 40 and the following chapters. Yet Jews returned from their exile not to build on this monotheistic vision, but largely to re-create the culture of the old Temple and city (see Ezra 7.1-10). This had been reinforced by Herod’s massive enlargement of the Temple (Mark 13.1-2; John 3.20). Jews from all the known world had gathered for the great festival of the Temple (Acts 2.1; 2.5)

But what was missing from their vision was Joel’s prophecy that, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh’ (Acts2.17). A necessary part of true monotheism is that, if there is only one God who created everyone, then surely God loves everyone equally, and all should be able to respond to their maker. This is in complete contrast to traditional religions which bolster tribal or national identities, and reject people who are different.

‘What does this mean?’ people ask. We struggle, even today, to appreciate fully the implications of the prophet’s words and the significance of the Pentecost event. We still fail to understand that men and women are equal or comprehend that ‘Black Lives Matter’. Persecution of people who appear to be different still continues worldwide.

• Persecution of Muslim people in Myanmar.
• Chinese imprisonment of Uighur people.
• The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians which appears not to have moved beyond the story of Samson at the gates of Gaza in Judges 16. Gaza rocked by fresh airstrikes after Netanyahu vows to keep attacks at ‘full force’.
• Racism has made the Covid epidemic worse for non-white Americans: Fauci: ‘Undeniable effects of racism’ have worsened Covid for US minorities.
• Only 17% in US say race relations better one year after Floyd’s murder, poll finds.

Meanwhile,

• The BBC website has a story written 80 years ago about the start of the Nazi terror in Germany and Kristallnacht. Arnold Schwarzenegger rebuked Trump and compared the Capitol riot last January to Kristallnacht. Remember that Schwarzenegger served two terms as a Republican governor, not a Democrat like Biden.
• Hugo Rifkind, in The Times has an article about anti-Semitism.
• It may be embarrassing to recall Tom Lehrer’s song, ‘National Brotherhood Week’, which ridicules pretended affection towards people who are different. (His songs are now copyright free.)

We often reserve the bitterest criticism for people most like ourselves; witness the proliferation of Christian denominations which have sprung up because people refused to worship together. And the hatred between Jews and Samaritans, which dates back to the end of the exile (see Ezra 4) was legendary.

But then the kingdom of David and Solomon had been divided after the death of Solomon (1Kings 12.16; 2 Chronicles 10). Families fall out.

The effects of Brexit have been particularly disastrous for the people of Northern Ireland who are still trying the heal the conflict of Protestant and Catholic communities and now find trade barriers from both Britain and the EU.

Paul’s letter to the Romans was written to try to unite Jewish and Gentile Christians in one fellowship in Rome, accepting that all were loved equally by God. He asserts (Romans 2.29-30): ‘Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.’

Paul sees ‘the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains’ (Romans 8.22) and even we ‘who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly’ at our failure to respond to the vision, whether in our attitude to our neighbours, or in our attitude to the whole of creation.

But then we find that the most unlikely and seemingly insignificant people have become prophets – ‘Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.' (Acts 2.18); the schoolgirl Greta Thunberg? This surely is a part of the outpouring of God’s Spirit to and for the whole of creation.

If you need an antidote to all this bad news about failures to respond to the Spirit, and hatred of those who are different, listen to the BBC’s Thought for the Day for 18 May (this week) by Dr Elizabeth Harris, a research fellow at the Edward Cadbury Centre for the Understanding of Religion at Birmingham University. Anger, and, in particular, what Christians often describe as ‘righteous anger’, is wrong.

 

Questions for discussion

• What makes you angry? Listen to Elizabeth Harris’ Thought for the Day and reflect on your attitude.
• Do we have a blind spot about people or attitudes that are different?
• In the very concise Lord’s Prayer, why is the line ‘forgive us our trespasses as we forgive’ a necessary part?
• Play Tom Lehrer’s song ‘National Brotherhood Week’. Can we still sing his songs? Does this song remind us of painful truths?

 

Tom Ambrose is a former geologist and priest in the Church of England Parish of the Ascension, Cambridge.

 

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

Two stories appear to be vying for top spot in the headlines this week:

1. The growing Israeli-Palestinian tensions: the latest battle in a long history brought about by a clash between the date marked by Jerusalem Day and the last Friday in Ramadan.
2. The hopeful expectation that the vaccine programme in the United Kingdom will be successful against growing numbers of cases of the Indian variant, while in India, the fight to find sufficient oxygen tanks continues.

On the day of Pentecost, disparate peoples were united as they heard the good news preached in their own language; God’s Spirit was poured out on all the people who gathered from many different nations. This radical event was shocking and community-changing then; and is as greatly needed to be heard today.

Often we see Pentecost as a celebration – and it is – but it is also an event which shakes things up and changes people.

• What might it look like to see God’s Spirit poured out in your community?
• Where might this change and shaking up be most needed in the world today?
• Where are the disparate communities who need to hear this good news spoken and enacted in their own language?
• What would happen if we, ourselves, were filled to overflowing with God’s Spirit?

Spend some quiet time praying about the unsettling news stories, and that God’s Spirit might be active throughout the whole world where its power is needed.

Becky May is a freelance writer and trainer with many years’ experience of working with children and young people in a variety of settings. She can be found at The Resources Cupboard.

 

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