Send the fire

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (2:1-11)

When the day of the Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes, and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

Pentecost Sunday 2009

Tongues of fire

Acts 2.1-11

“Tongues of fire came to rest on each of them”

 

From time to time the quiet of Dulverton is disturbed by the sounding of the fire alarm.

Up to now it has always been followed by a telephone call to say ‘sorry, false alarm’. In the upper room that first Pentecost Sunday it was no false alarm. It was the real thing. It wasn’t the first time that God had come to his own under the guise of fire. Three times in the Boom of Exodus: ch3-to Moses at the burning bush; ch13-in a pillar of fire before the travellers of the night; ch19-when Mount Sinai was entirely wrapped in smoke and God descended upon it in the form of fire. John the Baptist prophesied that Jesus would come to baptise with Holy Spirit and with fire(Mtt 3). And now 2when Pentecost day came round” the Holy Spirit comes on the disciples not under the gentle image of the dove but in tongues of fire.

 

Some of my cousins, through parents and grandparents, have been part of the Salvation Army in our village from the beginning and I have often worshipped with them. They have a song in their book which they often sing which repeatedly prays ‘Lord, send the fire’. I guess it is a serious and brave Christian who asks God to send Holy Spirit fire to him because before he can enkindle us with light or enflame us with love he will need to burn out the evil and purify the vessel in our lives.

 

Gladys Aylward became famous for her escape with the children of China during the revolution through the film ‘Inn of Sixth Happiness’. More than 50 years ago I first read a story she told which she said was handed down from the ancients. It tells of a man who owned a grove of bamboos. When he chose one he wanted to use he went to it and said  ‘Would you be willing for me to use you? I know you belong to me but I want you to be asked.’ The bamboo, happy to be chosen, would reply ‘Of course, I am willing. I have dreamed of this day. I never thought you would choose me.’ ‘Very well’ says the owner ‘but remember that whatever happens you have said you are willing.’ First, comes the heavy chopper to hack the bamboo down. Then the small sharp knife to lop off the little branches and the green leaves. Worst of all this is followed by the long red hot iron from the fire forced inside and through the bamboo to burn out the pith. Men now carry the aching, sore, unhappy bamboo long distances, up and down, across mountains, over streams until it is placed down and physically forced into union with other bamboos at either end. Suddenly something cool and refreshing flows through its middle and it asks ‘What’s happening?’ and is told ‘You are now part of a pipe line carrying water to a mountain village below. The water pipes of China are all bamboo.’ ‘Just a piece of water pipe and I thought I was going to be something important.’

 

Visiting the United States just over a year ago Pope Benedict said: ‘As we give thanks for past blessings, and look to the challenges of the future, let us implore from God the grace of a new Pentecost for the Church. May tongues of fire, combining burning love of God and neighbour with zeal for the spread of Christ’s kingdom, descend on all.’

LORD, SEND THE FIRE!