As a child (perhaps extending a bit into adulthood), I had a somewhat bizarre fantasy: that I would be struck by lightning and all the untapped potential in my brain would be instantly unlocked, granting me fluency in all sorts of languages. I used to lie in bed debating which languages I could suddenly speak, because surely only a few resided in the depths of my brain (as if the number of languages was the logical dilemma of my fantasy).
The truth is, I have never liked language study: rote memorization was the bane of my studies. I have studied six languages, sung/chanted/read regularly in four, and am fluent only in English. And yet, I catch myself on occasion beginning to pray “Otche nash…” or “Pater imon, o en tis ouranis…” because the prayer which Jesus taught was recited first in Slavonic or Greek as I was growing up (and sadly, I cannot finish the prayer in either of those languages). I instinctively ask the Lord for mercy in at least four languages other than English. And as you have noticed, I cannot imagine declaring that “Christ is Risen!” in only one language. Even though I have no ethnic connection to Greek, Russian, Romanian, or Arabic communities, their languages are part of my heart at prayer.
This Sunday, we will hear that the disciples (or, according to some translations, everyone present) “were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability” (Acts 2:4). Can you imagine what it was like for Jews from “from every people under heaven” (Acts 2:5) to hear the prophetic words of their God preached in the language of their heart?
This Sunday, we will get a small taste of what this was like, both the joy of speaking the loving words of God in the language of our hearts, and the cacophony that erupts when God’s Spirit honors the diversity, and difference, of all of us.
When you hear this verse, you are invited to join the Lector, reading the next portion in the language of your heart. Stand, and read aloud (emphasis on loud) verses 5-11, sitting after the Lector is has completed the final verse (11):
5 Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”
Bring your favorite translation, in the language of your heart, and join us in sharing the story of God’s work among “all the peoples under heaven”!
In the unity of the cacophonous work of the Spirit,
Mother Maria
