A Royal Pentecost?

I had set my alarm for 6 am this past Saturday so that I could watch some of the royal wedding coverage before the actual ceremony. After waking much earlier and not being able to get back to sleep, I ended up watching far more than I had planned and by the time the service began, I was starting to nod off. And then came the sermon by Bishop Michael Curry.

It wasn't just the powerful message he shared that got my attention, but the clear desire of the couple to recognize Meghan's roots by having an American black preacher along with the gospel choir. His words were thoughtful and inclusive and inspiring. I have to admit that I also was noting the mild to moderate discomfort on the faces of some who were used to a traditional Church of England style. On this Pentecost weekend, the diversity and even disparity of the church was visible.

In the coverage after the service, a black British woman said that she had never felt included in the monarchy, but because of seeing blacks prominently involved in the wedding, she finally felt represented. It must have seemed a bit like that first Pentecost, when pilgrims in Jerusalem were astonished to hear their own language. Imagine being a devout follower and faithfully showing up for Jewish festivals even though you couldn't understand what others were saying. It's like the amazing seniors who keep attending worship even though they can't hear, and then when they begin to use an assistive device they can suddenly take in all the words. 

Today we not only have divisions among different denominations and branches of the Christian church, but we have many, many people who do not understand the language of the church having never set foot in one. There are a vast number of languages and cultures that either express their faith in Christ wildly differently, or have yet to hear about Jesus. 

The question is, are we like the disciples  expectantly waiting for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on us, enabling us to fulfill the Great Commission and to embrace followers of all stripes and cultures? Or are we in hiding, trying to protect our own limited group of people who look and believe like us? Do we carefully consider how we express the faith to children and young people in ways they can grasp and that are personally meaningful, or do we perpetuate language and rituals that are like Greek to them? 

The royal wedding was a powerful example of taking tradition and infusing it with different cultures and styles to make it relevant. Given that millions of people worldwide watched the ceremony and that the sermon has been posted on facebook countless times, I can't imagine the impact of the Bishop's words on generations of people who have perhaps never heard about God's love, or in such a beautiful way.

We may not have as far-reaching a platform, but we should have a story and approach that we have given thoughtful reflection to for sharing with those who need to hear the gospel in a way relevant to their situation and today's culture. How is the Spirit priming us to share Jesus in fresh ways? Are we attentive to the opportunities we have to speak and model Christ to people thirsty for Good News?

Pentecost is not passive - we receive but we are then to share and allow the Spirit to spill out of us onto others even as we recognize the Spirit's gifts among the diverse Church of Jesus. May this new season of Pentecost be one where we are stretched out of our comfort zones to share the Spirit and enjoy God's presence with all people.