My husband encountered a bright, joyful hymn of faith in the wrong mood. The author declared that faith would guarantee joy and praise even though the fruit-blossom failed and the fields were barren. ‘Clearly not written by a farmer,’ he said. 

Context can be so important. Presuming at the present moment to offer a message of resurrection and renewal to desperate people, crushed by rising inflation and falling incomes, can seem similarly to speak only of our lack of understanding of everyday realities.

This week's news

A woman allegedly committed suicide because the ‘spare bedroom tax’ was for her the ‘last straw’. 

Lord Young’s report to David Cameron on the economy may be factually accurate but is felt by some to be ‘out of touch’ in its welcome for lower wages and consequently higher profits. 

Politicians seem constantly to fail to communicate their vision of a better future and the rationale for austerity to those worst affected by the transition. It is remarkable that the majority of those devout Jews gathered in Jerusalem – committed though they were to a different religious perspective – immediately felt connected to the apostles and their vision, hearing, as it were, in their own language (v.8). What is the secret? Can we do better than the politicians in sharing with our neighbours the vision of life as more than the struggle to make ends meet?

Reflection

What can we learn from Peter’s approach? Citing Joel’s prophecy (v.16), he appeals to the common heritage shared by every Jew. He addresses ‘men’ of many nations, some of them surely from the educated elite and with quite  a  different background from Peter. Do we still feel able to reach out to everyone? Are our churches sometimes inward-looking, culturally conservative, and self-protective?

Why is the grass always greener beyond the fence? As we progress through Christian Aid Week, urged to generosity by inspirational stories, we can hardly fail to become aware that in less wealthy countries there is more openness to hope. Do we find ourselves blaming the western poor for their own predicament, saying that they’re lazy, selfish, or greedy? Do we blame the complexity of western democracies, where ‘big government’ makes interventions more difficult and small changes seem insignificant? Is there another path? Should we be doing more preaching through action, getting involved in setting up and running food-banks, credit-unions, drop-ins for parents and carers with children? Or are these things really a distraction from our spiritual mission as churches?

Are we confident of having a better vision to offer? The current wrangling over the EU and welfare suggests a nation dominated by fear of foreigners, greed and suspicion of their neighbours. Are we ready for God’s alternative? Is it clear before us? Peter’s is a vision of genuine inclusiveness, where all have voices and the right to be heard. Are we courageous enough in envisioning the change God promises to all his people? 

Prayer

A meditation perhaps more for use in preparation

We need to be energised Lord! I’ve never given much thought to that rushing mighty wind. Just a metaphor, I thought: the Spirit that blows where it lists, free as the wind. But this year, this week, as Pentecost comes, our public life seems so static, so hidebound, so in need of being lifted out of itself, bowled over, blown away, shaken up to see new possibilities. We can have the quietly burning, thought-provoking tongues of fire later, when we’ve something new to think about. But for now Lord, send us the storm, the tumult of the Spirit. We aren’t answering to the gentle touch, or even to the reminder of the steadily burning flame. Send us the whirlwind this time! And let us be changed.
Amen. 

Questions

• What is your vision for the future of your community?
• What are the things you would really like to change if you could?

Action

There are two ways of viewing most outcomes: glass half-full or glass half-empty. Let’s try to ‘think positive’ this week!

Young People

Joel explicitly includes the younger generation in the outpouring of the Spirit and the vision it prompted. How do you see the future of your community? It might be fun to compare what a youth group or children’s club come up with to what an adult congregation thinks!

Brenda Vance is a retired University Teacher of English and a URC Elder.

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