This week's episode begins with the story of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-21. What a powerful first act of the spirit, to enable people to speak and understand across difference, offering a kind of repair to the Tower of Babel fiasco. We lift up the diversity of the community being called in here – not only in their languages, but also to different genders and ages, and to different modes of communicating with the divine.

 

And then we circle back to conclude our reading of Philippians with the softest landing imaginable in 4:4-7. Coming on the heels of the fiery image of the last days in Acts, we nestle into the sense of comfort that comes with God’s nearness here, calling us into a state of radical gentleness and a peace that surpasses all understanding. After devoting our year to study and understanding together - which has been pretty fantastic itself -  this is a profound blessing to take in.