Matthew Eyerman
May 30, 2004
Pentecost
I. Introduction
1. what is the miracle in the first reading from Acts
2. tempted to say
a. strong wind
b. tongues as if of fire
3. certainly special effects capture our imagination
4. anyone see the new movie: The Day After Tomorrow
a. global warming causes new ice age
b. not very good acting
c. great special effects
5. fire and wind in Acts seems like a special effect
II. bridge
1. in reality, biblical scholars
2. we know that fire and wind are not God’s special effects
3. that fire and wind are the normal manifestations of God
4. remember
a. the pillar of fire that lead the Israelites from Egypt
b. the fire that consumed Solomon’s sacrifice in 2 Chron 7:1
c. the wind that breathed life into the Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones (37)
5. Psalm 29 combines both images
Ps 29:7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.8The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
6. leave the pyrotechnics alone
7. not at all miraculous
8. but there is a miracle in Acts 2
9. in fact there are 4 miracles in today’s readings
III. first miracle: all together ---- #1
1. the first miracle is the first line of Acts 2
Acts 2:1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2. don’t skip past this miracle
3. think how much effort it took to get 12 men
a. by this time Matthias had replaced Judas
b. plus the other disciples
c. plus all the women
d. at in one place at one time
4. remember even fear of death did not initially bring them together
5. Thomas stayed away for a week
IV. first miracle: all together ---- #2
1. ever had the experience of being in the right place at the right time
2. can be simple
a. driving somewhere
b. and catch a series of green lights
c. or traffic suddenly opens up
3. can be a matter of timing
a. best friend calls at just the time you need
b. the answer to the last exam question jumps in your head right on time
4. can even be complex
a. Mary Marks died about a year ago
b. when I got the call the come to the hospital I was downtown
c. made it home to get the oils and to the hospital
d. all before she died
5. who works it out so that we are in the right place at the right time
6. not us
a. parents you know how hard get yourself &the kids ready each morning
b. kids you know how hard it is to get to school on time every day
c. some days you take that tardy slip as a prize
d. made it
7. who organizes our lives so we are in the right spot at the right time
8. He is an on time God and keeps us on time
9. that is a miracle
V. Second miracle: speaking in different languages --- #1
1. second speaking in different languages
2. let’s be clear what this is not
3. this is not speaking in tongues
a. we are familiar with this
b. crying out in estactic language praising God
4. Paul describes speaking in tongues as a gift of the Holy Spirit
1 Cori 14:2For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit.
5. purpose for speaking different languages in Acts is very different
6. purpose is not to praise God but to spread the Good News
7. the miracle is that God equips us to spread the Good News
VI. Second miracle: speaking in different languages ---- #2
1. the ability to speak in different languages
2. reversal of the curse of Babel
a. story from Genesis
b. everyone spoke the same language
c. worked together build a tower
d. tried to make humans in to gods
3. now equipped with the ability to speak different languages
4. take a fractured people and lead them to God
5. we are not building the tower of Babel
6. we are building the kingdom of God
7. we are equipped to do that
VII. second miracle --- speak different languages ---- #3
1. I am trying to make St. Columbanus multi-lingual
2. if we are to spread Good News we need to speak the language of that culture
3. we need to reach out past our culture and speak new languages
4. we will not repeat the sins of the past
a. when African Americans first came to this parish
b. the language of the culture was Irish Catholicism
c. there are people right here who learned the Irish dances
d. and never learned or celebrate Black Catholic culture
e. it was Irish Catholicism or the highway
f. that evil cannot be repeated
5. we are a multi-cultural group
a. different ages
b. different backgrounds
c. life long Catholic, converts, fence sitters
d. schooled in faith and new to faith
6. we are equipped to speak in all the languages
7. so let’s speak in new languages
VIII. second miracle ---- speak different languages ---- #4
1. I challenge you to learn a new language
a. to make someone comfortable
b. to welcome someone
c. to continue to spread the Good News
d. to bring about the Kingdom of God
2. learn
a. Spanish
b. Taguo
c. the language of Hip Hop
d. the language of youth
e. the language of hymns and chants
f. the language of older folks
g. the language of the different races
3. I know it is not always easy or comfortable
4. we are tempted to sneak back to our home culture
a. singing only old hymns or chants
b. singing only the top 40 gospel
c. speaking to only those in our culture
d. our little group that all thinks the same
5. I know it is tempting
a. sometimes even I sneak away
b. move from WGCI to oldies rock & roll: 97.1
6. but we are not called and gifted to just remain comfortable
1 Cor 9:22To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
7. push ourselves
8. God has given us the miracle of speaking in different languages
9. let us use it
IX. third miracle ---- soil is ready --- #1
1. and here is the really good news
2. not only has God given us this miracle
3. keep reading in Acts
Acts 2:6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
4. not only the miracle of speaking
5. but also the miracle of listening
X. third miracle --- soil is ready --- #2
1. God prepares the soil for the seed of faith
2. not only are the disciples speaking
3. the crowds are listening
a. not just passively
b. but listening and ready for word of God
4. God prepares the soil
5. even before we sow the seed
6. take the story of Philip and the Ethiopian
a. in Acts 8
b. as story opens, Ethiopian is reading from the book of Isaiah
c. God has prepared the soil
d. spirit moves Philip to speak to Ethiopian
e. the soil was ready
f. all Philip had to do was sow the seed of faith
g. begins to tell the Ethiopian about Jesus
h. suddenly faith takes root
i. and the Ethiopian is baptized
7. along with the miracle of speaking and sowing seed of Good News
8. God is working the miracle of listening, getting the soil ready
XI. third miracle ---- soil is ready --- #3
1. the next time you are tempted to speak
2. the next time you are ready to share faith
a. either in your own culture with your own language
b. or in another culture with a new language
3. do not doubt Thomas
4. do not have a spirit of fear
5. open your mouth
6. use the languages God has given us
7. the ground is ready
8. all that is needed is us
XII. fourth miracle --- us --- #1
1. here is the fourth miracle
2. you and us
3. we are sent
John 20:21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
4. no excuses
5. Jesus did not accept them
6. the original disciples were not the
a. cream of the crop
b. the talented 10th
7. more like the good, the bad, and the ugly
a. a public sinner, the tax collector
b. a couple of revolutionaries
c. a denier
d. a betrayer
e. and host of women
f. some very important
g. some like Mary Magadalene, well known
XIII. fourth miracle --- us --- #2
1. and here we are
2. some of us are the talented 10th
3. but most of us are just the hard working 90th
4. not the CEO’s and Presidents and world leaders
5. just us
6. that is exactly whom God has chosen
7. not someone else
8. remember someone else is gone
9. but us
a. the good, the bad, and the ugly
b. with all our great blessings
c. with all our great sins
XIV. fourth miracle ---- us --- #3
1. the fourth miracle in Acts is us
2. we are the ones who will spread the Good News
3. does not just happen once a week
4. we are sent so be sent
5. at end of mass
a. each parish organization has been asked to be here
b. opportunity for us to use this miracle
6. join an organization or a ministry
7. use the miracles God has given us
XV. Conclusion
1. the miracle in Acts is not that God shows up
2. He is always showing up
3. miracle is how we are changed
4. four miracles happen to us
a. we are called together in God’s time
b. the right place and person at the right time
c. we are equipped with languages to speak the Good News
d. the soil is ready for us
e. the hungry of God are waiting for the Good News
f. and only we
5. only you and only me
6. only us
7. can do it
8. we are sent
