“A young girl in a parking lot was preaching to a crowd, singing sacred songs and reading from the Bible. Well I told her I was lost and she told me about the Pentecost and I seen that girl as the rood to my survival”
Paul Simon “Duncan”
I Loved this song as a young man but I didn’t take the time to read about Pentecost. I had heard of Pentecost and knew a couple of the bullet points about the event, but in truth I missed that class in Sunday School.
So what happened to Duncan? He got lucky (in that mano e mano sense). Ah the fire of passion. Is there another force as strong? Remember the first time you felt passion?
Imagine the Twelve Apostles on this life changing day. Even if you are you are not a Christian take a moment to reflect on the force and power of passion.
These twelve men were lost. They were scared. Their life was in danger. Jesus had been killed fifty days earlier and people were now hunting for his band of associates. Remember, there were no legions of Christians to come to their defense. There were NO Christians yet.
The apostles were having a difficult time explaining what had transpired with Jesus of Nazareth. (Remember: “Nothing good ever came out of Nazareth“) “Jesus? Jesus of Nazareth? Jesus the carpenter, Jesus the son of Joseph the carpenter? What are you out of your freaking mind? You want us to believe the he is the Messiah? You want us to put our lives and our family’s lives in peril and live in hiding like you and your band of nuts? No way! Leave us alone and get away from me!!! Now!!! or I will point you out to the authorities.” and that tirade came from a loving family member…
Passion. I have felt like I could scale the highest mountains and all was possible when a wave of passion covered me. On top of the world, and everyone sees the glow. Chores get easier and the world is somehow a better place and I was unstoppable.
The twelve apostles were empowered on the Pentecost and the world would never be the same. Passion can be a fleeting thing but when infused with Love it will endure. So here we are almost 2000 years later* and the world is still experiencing effects of the Love and Passion that these twelve brave men shared with the world.
As always I must address my friends and loved ones who do not believe in Jesus.
I know about the horrors inflicted on the world in the name of Christianity but like all things it is a matter of focus and perspective and examining the good and bad in individuals and by interpolation organized groups of people. The good that Jesus brought to the world far out weighs the bad that has been done “in his name” and the bad really has nothing to do with Jesus or his teachings. The “evils” of Christianity? These are lessons on how people are used and manipulated by men of power. History is littered with examples of this fact and Christianity is not the only victim. There are forces at work. Passion is a force, Love is a force, Hate is a force. These forces are very very real.
I look forward to Ordinary Time. I hope to make good of it. Advent will be here before we know it!
May the force be with us.
Peace, Jack
Live your life in such a way that if someone speaks poorly about you, none will believe” Anonymous (found on a poster in a middle school classroom)
For a friend: Some people seem to have a need to cast aspersions on those around them. No need to get revenge or confront them they may be doing you a favor by shinning a light on people who are not actually your friends after all. We must of course defend our reputations. Another one of the great balancing acts of human interaction and choosing our battles wisely. In the end Love answers all questions and conflicts.
Birth Day!
Yesterday my Niece delivered a new member to our family. A healthy baby boy. Now all but one of my nieces and nephews have children. I have been particularly excited about this pregnancy. My niece is on the later side of child birth and this is her first child. As someone who never had a child I am attune to “this” passing time.
Birthdays:
Yesterday I joined fifty other people and celebrated one of my closest friends birthdays. He turned 60. His twenty year old daughter put the party together. From what I hear father and daughter had a tumultuous relationship during her teens. She went to great effort to assemble this gathering. People came from miles around and other states to attend. It was a surprise to which he had no clue. Well done! I saw people I might not see except for a wedding or funeral. It is so nice to gather without all the baggage tied to those two life events.
In the spirit of gathering people together I will be celebrating my birthday next Saturday and asking people to join me for a few hours. Last year it was the ” Double Nickle ” for me, yesterday it was the “Big 6 0” for my friend. This coming birthday is not any particular mile stone so why the extra effort? June 1st is the start hurricane season and even though the forecast is for a very mild season the winds of change are always blowing and for winds there is no forecast. We sailors depend on the wind and it is mysterious force. As Jesus said: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Peace and happy birthday to all my friends born this month, to which there are quite a few.