In Wind & Flame
1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. (Acts 2:1-4)
As the Jewish faithful were gathering in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Weeks (a harvest festival), the disciples were gathered together awaiting the gift that Jesus had promised as he ascended. Without warning, the sound of wind filled their dwelling and what appeared to be tongues of fire rested on each of the disciples. They were suddenly able to speak in the various languages of those gathered outside. We are not told exactly what the disciples were saying, but it caused those outside to take notice that these were Galileans speaking in elite languages, and they questioned how this could be. If the disciples had wondered how they could go and preach the gospel to all - how they would be received or respected - perhaps this was their answer: what they said and how they said it caused people to see them, and to see them differently. The disciples were also empowered to see themselves differently.
God's ruach - breath, wind, spirit - replaces limited vision with God's vision and provides the courage to live into that vision. Every element of God's creation is imbued with and powered by God's Spirit. The gift given to the disciples, and to us, is not an understanding of this Spirit, but it's the grace to rest in it and be moved by it for the glory of One greater than all of creation.
24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great. 26 There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it. 27 These all look to you to give them their food in due season; 28 when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. 29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30 When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground. (Psalm 104:24-30)
