Commentary on Acts 2:1-21; Philippians 4:4-7

Pairing the traditional Pentecost text with this beautiful passage from Philippians offers a bit of a salve for the preacher who may be struggling with finding something new to say for this annual celebration. These two passages bring new life out of one another as they both address the movement and presence of the Spirit and complement one another by offering examples of what the presence of the Spirit does for the community and the individual, respectively. 

Acts 2 provides us the sound of the Spirit in community, while the Philippians passage provides a poetic example of the Spirit’s quiet presence in a person. What also seems fitting for this season, and perhaps every season, is that both passages emerge from stressful circumstances and offer a faithful way of responding to the pressures that surround them.

For all the joy and exuberance that come from Pentecost, it had to have been a stressful time.  Jesus had just ascended 10 days before the events of Acts 2. Undoubtedly, this burgeoning faith community would have been unsettled in the aftermath of this “second” loss of Jesus. Can you imagine the feelings they had in Acts 1:10–11, as this new community is gathered and looking into the sky that just a few moments prior swallowed their Savior? And then to compound their uncertainty, they were immediately tasked with finding a replacement for their former fellow disciple Judas. While they would have felt some relief after finding someone to fill the position, I can imagine that they were also still reeling from Judas’s betrayal and his untimely death.  

When they were gathered all in one place, stress and strain was gathered with them. And as Paul writes to the church at Philippi, the presence of anxiety for those in that community is signaled by his command to them, “Do not be anxious about anything.” Up to this point in the epistle, Paul has been talking about the struggles that come with spreading the gospel, the frustrations that come from building partnerships, and the need for them to continue to press on through all obstacles. Paul’s encouragement to the church at Philippi and the assurance that accompanies it mirror what happens to the community at Pentecost. In both cases God comes near.

Pentecost is a loud and chaotic scene as the sound of a rushing wind fills the house, followed by tongues of fire descending on each person, which leads to each person speaking in a language they did not previously know, loud enough so that people outside of that gathering were able to hear the gospel preached in their own language! Fully articulating the machinations of the miracles of this moment is difficult as the Spirit is moving through both the tongues of those speaking and the ears of those hearing the good news! But what is readily observable is the presence of God through the Spirit. God’s presence among the community is palpable; God is near. These words are echoed to the church at Phillippi: “The Lord is near.”  

Paul’s command to rejoice, his exhortation to release anxiety, and his assurance that peace will reign in the midst of it all are all a result of God’s nearness. As our communities continue to experience the many stressors of this life, uncertainty around leadership and communal stability, or more personal disquiet about family and vocation, we can point them toward the nearness of the Spirit in their stress and strain, and this joint picture of both a loud and quiet Spirit working to meet all of us exactly where we are. 

These paired passages remind us that life shifts when God is near. Pentecost showed the external signs of that nearness through the difference in the community’s confidence and the increase in the boldness of their communal public witness. The Philippians passage demonstrates some of the internal signs of the Spirit’s presence: joy, gentleness, and peace—all fruit of the Spirit as mentioned in Galatians 5:22–23. When fear and panic rise among us, the Spirit draws near with courage and peace to both ease our minds and prepare us for the continued work of the church.

If Pentecost is the church’s birthday, then this passage in Philippians is our mantra: Rejoice, be gentle, don’t be anxious, pray, and peace will be with us. As the mission is given on Pentecost, to go and spread the gospel to all nations, Paul gives us in Philippians the simple reminders that will help us endure the stresses and strains that will come along the way. 

The gift of the Spirit’s presence, both with the community and with us as individuals, is paired with the call to share the gospel with the world. Whether it be an articulation of the good news in a way that others can relate to, or the outward expression of gentleness in our lives, the Spirit comes near so we might show the world what life with God can be. May these passages help calm the nerves associated with that task and bring more joy to the work of ministry in these endlessly stressful times. 

PRAYER OF THE DAY

God of Spirit,

We give thanks that when you sent your Advocate, the apostles were empowered to speak about your deeds of power in all languages, for every people. Give us boldness to share the Spirit’s power with our neighbors. Amen.

HYMNS

Lord, dismiss us with your blessing   ELW 545, H82 344, UMH 671, NCH 77
O day of rest and gladness   ELW 521, H82 48, NCH 66

CHORAL

Go where I send thee, Caldwell/Ivory