The Day of Pentecost
June 8, 2025
Acts 2:1-21

Two weeks ago, the Abbott family got a new dog. Oh boy. He’s a mess, we think he’s part corgi, part weenie dog, and a whole lot of chihuahua. We got him from a shelter, and they had named him, “Guapo.” That’s Spanish for “handsome” or “good looking.” But Guapo is about the only one who believes he’s actually guapo. 

And we’ve been doing our best to train him. You know, the basic commands – sit, stay, come.  But Guapo doesn’t understand English. So, I’ve tried Spanish – siéntate, espera, ven. But Guapo doesn’t really understand Spanish either. 

But you know what language Guapo understands really well? Treats and positive reinforcement. Turns out, you can get a dog to do just about anything if you give them enough freeze dried chicken. You want him to sit? Give him a treat when sits down. You want him to learn how to stay? Train him with a treat. He’s learning what we’re saying because of the positive reinforcement. He wags his tail, he rolls over on his back, all is good. He’s happy, we’re happy. 

And that my friends, is the whole lesson for today. The universal language of love, of positive reinforcement.

Here’s the story. The first disciples are gathered together in Jerusalem. It’s fifty days after Easter. The Day of Pentecost. They’re gathered together, they’re praying, and suddenly the Holy Spirit comes upon them. Now, there were people from all over the ancient world there that day, because Pentecost was a day that pilgrims would go to Jerusalem. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the disciples start speaking in other languages so that everyone – everyone – could understand; so that everyone could hear about God’s deeds of power. About the compassion and the mercy of Jesus. About this way of life, this way of love, that is now open to the whole world. 

Sure, those inspired disciples may have been speaking Hebrew and Aramaic and Greek and Latin, but those are just words. Yes, there is a miracle of languages. But it’s not how the disciples spoke that is so interesting – it’s what they were saying that means everything. What the disciples are communicating is love and grace. And what they said, changed the world. Inspiring generation after generation to follow Jesus, to make their own times better. 

This upward cycle of love and generosity is a real thing. When Guapo does what we ask, he gets a treat and a belly rub – and everybody is happy. The Holy Spirit, even this moment, is calling us to kindness and grace even in this hard world. And when we are that kindness, when we are that grace, we are all rewarded with knowing we did the right thing, and that feeling is love. And when we are in a state of love, we are more likely to give kindness, to give back again. And everybody is happy. This is the vision for the Kingdom of God. Grace upon grace. It’s a positive reinforcement feedback loop.

But you know, there is another way we could do this. And there is another feedback loop out there. It’s the language of shame and guilt. Leading us downward into cycles of fear and loneliness. 

See, Guapo has developed a terrible habit of walking off with our shoes and socks. I’ll admit, these are not my finest moments. I snap at him. And his tail goes between his lags, his ears droop, and he slinks off, trying to hide from me. And then I feel miserable for making him feel miserable. Negative reinforcement reinforces negative feelings. And we all spiral downwards.

And the Church has trafficked off that for so long now. I’ve heard the sermons, trying to scare me into believing so I don’t go to hell. Trying to scare me away from whatever sin happens to be in vogue at the moment, so that God doesn’t punish me. It’s the worst feeling. And when we are shamed like that, we all fall into the negative feedback loop. Sure, shame and guilt might produce obedience. But what is it doing to our souls? Little wonder then, that fewer people are going to church nowadays. We all spiral downwards.

Now, I’m not saying that the Christian message doesn’t have hard things to say. Of course not. After all those people heard Peter’s first sermon, the Bible says that they are “cut to the heart” and they repent. But they’re not shamed into it, that sends people downward. No, they’re inspired by a positive vision. They see what Peter is talking about and God comes alive in them and they want to be better. The truth spoken in love for the greater good is far different than ideological agendas spoken in deceit for personal gain. The truth spoken in love for the greater good is far different than ideological agendas spoken in deceit for personal gain.

This is the kind of church and community I wish to serve, the kind of church and community that I want to be part of. I want to be part of a church that is more focused on the positive, on raising each other up. I want to be part of a church that looks at each other, that looks at me, that looks at you, and is happy. To me, that is a Pentecost kind of a church. The gift of the Holy Spirit is the gift of joy. The upward spiral, the positive feedback loop.

I want to be put this into real terms – the realest of all – money. When it comes to fundraising for church, I don’t want to be that guy that tells you that you don’t give enough. I’ve heard those sermons – they feels like a hold up. Give me the money or else. And usually, the answer is “or else.” And the whole thing spirals downward. No, I want to raise you up. And you know this, right. In just the last four years, the budget of this church has grown by forty percent. We’ve more than doubled how much money we give away. We’ve raised $2.3 million for our building fund. Could we use more, for both the annual budget and for the building? Of course we could. But I hope that you would only give out of love, not out of guilt. To give out of joy. If you give out of shame, that’s not a gift, that’s a payoff, an appeasement. That’s not love. And I’m far more concerned with the health of your soul than I am with our balance sheet. I believe that what is happening here at Trinity Church, is the positive feedback loop. 

Finally, I can’t help but recognize the similarities between that first Day of Pentecost and today. We are gathered in one place. The Holy Spirit is present. And you have asked me to stand in your midst, like Peter, and say something. It is an astounding responsibility you have given me. And so I will say, with Peter, that the Holy Spirit is poured out upon all flesh. As wild as that sounds, that’s what we mean, all flesh, all people. And if ever the Church comes up against someone, and says that they are out, that they are not good enough, if we start in with the shame and the negative reinforcement; then the feedback loop starts and we all spiral downwards. If you push someone else out, then chances are, someone eventually will push you out. This has been the history of the Church since that first Day of Pentecost. We have bumped up against new people and we’ve had to ask – “can we let them in, too?” And the answer, from that first Pentecost, has always been “yes.” It started with just a few fishermen from Galilee, and then the circle grew. Then it was Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, an ever widening circle; the people who were there on that first Pentecost. As the Church moved on, more and more people were brought in, from every people, tribe, language, and nation. Can we let them in, too? Yes, because the Spirit of God is poured out upon all flesh. An upward cycle of grace and welcome. It’s been the same question we keep asking ourselves – what about people who don’t look like us, love like us, identify like us? Can we let them in, too? Well, the Spirit of God has been poured out upon all flesh. It doesn’t matter how we say it, what matters is that we say it. 

And I know, that some will sneer. As they did at Peter and those first disciples. It sounds so loosey-goosey. It sounds like we’ve been into the new wine. So please don’t hear what I’m not saying, I’m not saying that in the Holy Spirit, anything goes. Certainly not. Goodness, I still don’t want our little dog to steal my shoes and socks. But it does seem to me, that God always evades, and expands, our expectations. I’m sure it was mind-blowing for Peter to stand there, and to see that vast crowd of people from all around the world and to hear the Spirit’s voice say, “these are my people.” As I am continually astounded as I look at the Church today with all sorts of folks in it, and I hear the same voice, “these are my people.” 

And, I believe, this is the positive reinforcement feedback loop that God has given us. As the circle grows ever wider. 

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

Then everyone [,everyone] who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ “