From the Chaplains
Pentecost
How many languages do you speak?
I speak English and one phrase of Italian I recall from Year 9. Whenever I am overseas and travel home on a Qantas flight, it brings me so much joy to hear the stewards say ‘G’day.’ There is something about a shared spoken language that feels like home, it brings ease of understanding and lets friendships blossom.
When I asked our students whether they spoke more than one language, an overwhelming majority put up their hands. We are blessed with a rich and diverse variety of cultures represented by our students and staff at Pymble. Over 15 languages are spoken by our staff including Afrikaans, Cantonese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese.
This week in chapel we celebrated the beauty of our differences as we focused on Pentecost. Pentecost, also known as the “birthday of the church,” celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ followers- including women and men, young and old, and marks the beginning of the church’s mission.
Pentecost is a time for joy, festivity, and embracing the diversity of the church as a multicultural family. As the Holy Spirit descended upon the group of followers, what seemed to be like tongues of fire fell upon each person. Enabled by the Spirit, they began to speak in different human languages- languages that they had never learnt to speak or understand. Visitors from across the world were nearby and heard their words. Hearing languages in their own dialect they gathered to meet the disciples.
The Spirit’s presence on the believers honoured the beauty of all nations and languages. In their speaking in common languages, the Spirit brought unity and friendship, enabling the Good News to spread across the world. May we each live in step with the Spirit of Pentecost, with words that unite and hearts that see the beauty in difference.
A prayer for Pentecost
Bright God of life:
Burn in our lives
Bless us with courage and joy
Refine in us your justice
Blaze in us all our days.
(prayer written by Ruth Burgess).
Reverend Cass Blake
College Chaplain
