Picture this: Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit, tongues of fire and the followers of Jesus going out into the world to proclaim the good news.
A large crowd gathers, but the people are confused because they’re not confused. Everyone can understand what’s being said, and they respond with a kind of poem of wonder:
We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,
inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia,
Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,
as well as travelers from Rome,
both Jews and converts to Judaism,
Cretans and Arabs,
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
of the mighty acts of God.
The good news transcends the barriers of language. It rises above the blockades of fear. And, today, we are the preachers and we are the listeners:
We are Chileans, Iraqis, and Poles,
inhabitants of Canada, Ghana and France,
Laos and Russia,
Norway and Nigeria,
Israel and the districts of Argentina near Buenos Aires,
as well as travelers from Ireland,
both Christians and converts to Christianity,
Lebanese and Americans,
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
of the mighty acts of God.
With faith, we are all preachers and we are all listeners. With the tongue of fire, we all proclaim the mighty acts of God.
Patrick T. Reardon
5.14.16
Written by : Patrick T. Reardon
For more than three decades Patrick T. Reardon was an urban affairs writer, a feature writer, a columnist, and an editor for the Chicago Tribune. In 2000 he was one of a team of 50 staff members who won a Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting. Now a freelance writer and poet, he has contributed chapters to several books and is the author of Faith Stripped to Its Essence. His website is https://patricktreardon.com/.