19-May-24 (Acts 2:1-21)

Have you ever been listening to someone else, maybe even trying very hard to understand them and you just can't? What was the problem? Why do you think you couldn't you understand? [wait for answers]
One of the problems everyone has is trying to understand people who learned and speak in a different language than we do. I've been to several places in the world where people speak other languages and sometimes, we just can't understand what the other is saying.
In our scripture story for today, we get to hear about a time when God solved that problem for a little while. There were people from all over the known world and yet God allowed them to hear what the disciples were saying to them in their very own languages!
Now that was pretty cool, but it also doesn't happen very often. The people who go to other places in the world to share God's love don't expect God to eliminate the language barriers.
Often, they work very hard and learn the language of the people where they are and always, they work to make sure their actions say what they want to say. They want to share God's love, so they act in love toward the people they meet there.
And we can do that too. We can act in kind and loving ways to other people, even when we do speak the same language.
Let's talk to God about that.
God, we thank you that you give us your Holy Spirit to help us to love others as you love them. Help us to share your love with the people we meet, in our words and in what we do.
We pray in Jesus' name.
AMEN.