Native Tongue

“And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.” — Acts 2:6 (NRSV)

Whenever I’m out, and I hear someone speaking a language I don’t know, I find myself eavesdropping — not to be nosy (well, maybe a little), but to see if I can figure out what language it is. Living in a multicultural area, I get this opportunity almost every day.

But every now and then, as I’m listening, I catch a word I recognize — maybe the name of an object, or a familiar English idiom. And in that moment, just for a breath or two, I feel like I’m part of that conversation.

On the day of Pentecost, there were people from many cultures gathered in Jerusalem for the Jewish festival. As the Holy Spirit descended, those visitors heard what was being proclaimed in their own language — not just an occasional word, but the whole of the message.

We don’t know the exact sentences they heard; Luke doesn’t record them. But we do know something far more important: on the very day Israel celebrated God giving the Law, God once again gave a gift — not written on stone tablets but spoken into human hearts in every language under heaven.

And that is still how the Holy Spirit comes — not with wind and fire, but with clarity. By the Spirit, we are filled with conviction, compassion, and an awareness of God’s presence. Our eyes are opened to a new way of seeing the world and the people around us. Like Saul, the scales fall from our eyes. A word lands in our own language — the language of our lives, our wounds, our hopes, our fears. 

The Spirit still opens what has been closed by the world, and still makes the gospel understandable, drawing us into a conversation we didn’t know we were part of — the conversation of God’s redeeming love, both individual and communal. 

Holy Spirit, come to us as you came on that first Pentecost. Open our eyes to see the world as you see it and open our ears to hear the cries we have ignored. Open our hearts to receive the grace you are already pouring out. Speak to us in the language we can understand — the language of our lives — and send us out to share your love in ways others can hear. Make us your people, your witnesses, your church, alive with your fire and gentle with your compassion. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Tim