Beginning a New Day

Scripture – Acts 2:14-21: ¹⁴Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ¹⁷“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. ¹⁸Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. ¹⁹I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. ²⁰The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. ²¹And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Reflection: – All at once a ready-made audience is assembled to hear as Peter steps up to preach. He begins with this quote from the Old Testament prophet Joel. Three things pop out to me.

First, the gift of God’s Spirit is for men and women. This signals right off the bat something new has begun.

Second, while everyone has different roles in this new day, all are looking ahead. Younger people will have the visions. Older people will be open to new dreams and ideas. In my mind, I see the wisdom and maturity of the old working together with the energy and enthusiasm of the young.

Third, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” It will take the church a few more years to fully figure that out. But God’s invitation to eternal life is for everyone!

What do you see in this passage? What vision is God stirring in you?