It must have been shocking to be in Jerusalem that day. When, the physical cacophony breaks in and suddenly some hicks from up north are multilingual marvels.

One of the things churches often do for Pentecost is to proclaim this moment in multiple languages, so we can grasp the crazy sound of all of these voices and languages speaking at once. But this betrays the true power of the moment.

People didn’t hear all the languages they didn’t understand. They improbably heard their own language so they could understand. The power of the Pentecost wasn’t for the egos of insiders, but to include outsiders as insiders, In theirlanguage. So the Good News could be understood.

While our method of worship reinforces the convictions of insiders, our work demands we seek to be heard and understood.