May 16, 2016

Acts 2:6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.

Who speaks your language? We have debate in our country about how important it is for people to become proficient in English when they take up residence in the U.S. In the Pentecost story in Acts people heard about God in their own language. It is the complete opposite of the Tower of Babel story in Genesis where the people start out with one language but end up divided and unable to understand one another. Communication is hard. It is one of the biggest problem areas in marriages. Having a common vocabulary doesn’t necessarily guaranty that thoughts and intentions will actually be conveyed. When we say someone “speaks your language” we often mean that they “get you,” that they connect with what you are trying to express. Part of the message of the Pentecost narrative is that God speaks your language and that God desires for us to relate to him and each other in ways that truly connect. When you experience that kind of connection you know how wonderful it is. Who speaks your language? Maybe God?