Daily Thought for Sunday 24th May 2026
“How is it that each of us hears them in our own native language … the wonders of God in our own tongues? What does this mean?”
Acts 2:8, 10b, 12 (NIV)
Language
Tom Gordon
I thought my sermon was terrific! Fresh out of college, full of confidence, an attentive congregation, how could I fail? Not, perhaps, the best sermon ever! But I reckoned it was pretty good!
The reactions afterwards were encouraging: “Thank you!”; “Well done!”; “I could hear every word.”; “Nice weather we’re having …” Until Lilly arrived at the back of the line. “Can I have a word, son, about your sermon, ken?” I smiled, glowing with pride – till Lilly started. “See … me and Gladys were just sayin’ – it was rubbish!” I crumbled, devastated by this reaction. But Lilly wasn’t done. “See, if what comes oot your mouth, a’ fancy an’ clever like, hits oor ears in a way we cannae understand, ken, then – it’s rubbish. We have tae hear it oor way, oor language. So, me and Gladys were sayin’, it would have been better if the laddie had pit it this way …” And a sermon was reconstructed – in an infinitely better fashion.
If a violent wind and tongues of fire were the equivalent for Pentecost disciples of being fresh out of the college, then they too would have been full of confidence. They had news of Christ’s Kingdom to bring to a busy city, folk from all over the known world. What a congregation! What an opportunity! What a message!
And not one of their congregation said what they heard was rubbish! And why? Because they all heard the message of Pentecost in their own language. What came from the disciples fell on their ears in words they could understand, in a way that mattered. It was a message they could really hear.
Full of confidence as we are at Pentecost, we now go into a world, where all these different people are still attentive and ready. Will they hear a proclamation of the Gospel in a way they understand? Will the Kingdom of God be seen and recognised by how we are with them? Will the Good News of Christ be heard in a language of Love?
Terrific? The best ever? Probably not. But at least the message will be heard and understood.
Shall we pray?
God, we are your Pentecost people. May the blessings of God inspire us with confidence. May the companionship of Jesus strengthen us as we go out in His name. May the empowerment of the Holy Spirit equip us with the language of Love. Amen.
Tom Gordon, now retired, is a former parish minister and hospice chaplain, and author of several book on spiritual, faith and bereavement issues. He also publishes a daily blog on https://swallowsnestnet.wordpress.com