Dream New Dreams

Pentecost Sunday

May 24th 2026

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21 & John 20:19-23

Today is the day of Pentecost, the 50^th day after Easter! Today we celebrate and remember when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples with tongues of fire! This is said to be the birthday of the church. Arguments could be made for other events that happened between Jesus’ ministry and Pentecost that signified the beginning of the church, but I think I’ve come to like this idea of Pentecost being the church’s birthday. For the church, as we know, is the body of Christ, and it is the Holy Spirit that enables us to BE the body of Christ, so it makes sense to me that the day the Spirit came to the disciples truly brought the church to life.

When the Spirit came to the disciples they were frightened, surprised, bewildered, and confused. Understandably so, since the story goes that the whole house was filled with the howling sound of a fierce wind and each person inside appeared as if they were on fire! This sound was so loud that people throughout the city heard it and came to investigate. They likely imagined they would find disaster, but instead they found people speaking their native tongue, telling stories of Jesus Christ and the good news of a God who is present, who is at work, and who keeps their promises.

When the prophet Joel, whom Peter quotes here, spoke about this “great and spectacular day of the Lord” Joel did not speak about the Lord then as the person of Jesus Christ, nor as the winds of the Spirit. He did not know how this day would come about, but Peter says, THIS is it! That great spectacular day of the Lord is upon us! God’s Spirit has been poured out on ALL – servant, men, women, ALL have received this gift! With the barriers that divided them removed, they had ALL become free to prophesy, to see visions/images of a different future, and dream dreams. To speak of the Spirit is to speak of the great Winds of Change. Or as Jesus says, the Spirit of Truth.

We live in a time where Truth has become subjective. I cannot stand here and tell you what is Truth; we very well may have different beliefs and understandings. But what cannot be contested, what is true for us all, is that to be alive means 1) we have breath in our lungs and 2) things are constantly changing. If nothing else, let’s base the Spirit of Truth on these two things, because the Spirit is not only described as wind or fire, but also as breath. In our creation story God breathes the breath of life into human lungs; without it, we do not have life. This breath, subsequently, is not merely reserved for those who believe in God as their Maker; this breath gives life to ALL.

Just as the person of Jesus Christ gave flesh and voice to Godself, to reveal how God truly works in the world and lead by example so that we might follow in his footsteps and transform our world, it seems to me this story of the Spirit descending on all people and erasing that which divides us is just ONE more way God is trying to make very clear that humanity’s core identity is God’s beloved children; everything else is secondary. The Spirit of Truth is one final, blatant message that things will never, SHOULD never be the same. On these Winds of Change, there shall be no more Jew, nor Greek, nor male, nor female, nor slave nor free.. just children of God.

Jesus acknowledges the reality that the world cannot recognize this truth. That is why Pentecost becomes such a big deal, because like the execution and resurrection of Jesus, this is a moment in time none shall ever forget. A moment that changed the world. A great and glorious day when neighbor looked upon neighbor with love and understanding, with nothing to divide them. In the wake of such a revelation, they were able to dream dreams of a new world. They were able to see visions of God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven – where all have a place at the table, bellies are full, laughter resounds, and peace reigns. This great and glorious day was never supposed to be at “the end of time,” but has always been the present moment.. humanity just continually fumbles the plot.

But that is okay too, because remember what else is always true? Change. Change is inevitable and that is both a blessing and a curse. Jesus shows us, though, that change is not linear, time is not marching on from the point in time God made the world to the point in time God will choose to end it. Rather, change is cyclical; for every ending there is a new beginning. Jesus’ death and resurrection is a great example; what seemed like a traumatic end, was just a change in status, a beginning arose again. Then when Jesus left earth, another end came to the disciples, but a new beginning rose again with the Spirit. Just as sure as fall turns to winter, turns to spring, turns to summer, which brings us right back to autumn, SURELY for every door that closes, a window opens; life returns again, anew. As much as we loathe and resist it, change is core to our theology as Christians.

The Spirit as breath binds us all together as one. The Spirit as the Winds of Change ensures that transformation is possible; that not only can we be a better version of ourselves each and every day, but we can work toward a better version of the world each day – reassured that wherever the Spirit falls fresh, conditions will change. The world as we know comes to an end, but tomorrow a new world awakens. The Spirit empowers us to decide how we want to shape it and ensures us, especially when we feel too small or insignificant to contribute, that we cannot fail, for God is with us.

Following the ways of Jesus, pushed along by the winds of the Spirit, and accompanied by God we can tear down the walls that divide us and we can build a world for future generations where the Earth is thriving and healthy, where no one shall be trapped in systems of oppression or exploitation, a world without war, genocide, abuse, and violent shootings. A world that upholds the dignity and worth of all beings, where hierarchies have been dismantled and no more are people marginalized, outcast, poor, or victimized by aspects of their being they cannot even control – like the color of their skin or the people they love.

Church, we are not waiting for the day of the Lord to arrive sometime in the far off future. The day has come. The winds of change have brought us this far. The dreams of us today, as those who continue the story, will impact the generations of the next 2,000 years. So on this, our birthday, as is tradition, let us make a wish.. what is it you dream? What vision of new life has the Spirit breathed into your heart? May we respond to our calling with as much courage as the disciples in that room the day the Spirit first descended. God beckons us, COME.. there is much to do.