Unlike many modern celebrations centered around commercialism, Pentecost directs our attention away from ourselves.

So, while Pentecost may not have candy sales, greeting cards, or elaborate decorations, it gives something infinitely greater: the promise that the Holy Spirit is still calling, gathering, enlightening, and sanctifying the whole Christian Church through the Gospel.

Pentecost is not a forgotten holiday. It just doesn’t have traditions that we all know and love. Perhaps we can start some? We could all learn to be fire eaters, as an homage to the tongues of fire that first appeared on the the disciples' heads. Or we could sing Norman Greenbum’s hit from 1969 “Spirit in the Sky” at worship? Oh! What if we rented out the nearest YMCA on a Sunday and had a cannon ball contest off the high dive, to remember that we are baptized and should be walking wet in our baptism every other day of the year? 

I like all of these ideas but really the point is to mark the day. Set it apart from other days because it is holy, it is a holy-day. 

Paul’s mention of Pentecost (“I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost” 1 Corinthians 16:8) shows that the early Christians recognize and observed this important occasion. Because Pentecost was not merely a one-time historical event. It became part of the rhythm of the Church’s life. It proclaims the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament, through the continued existence of the Church itself. Through you and me. There is an unbroken line of effort and miracles, from the Coming of the Holy Spirit to this Sunday at Christ Lutheran. We are a part of the salvation history. I am writing at this very moment!

This all matters today because we can often think of the Church primarily as a building, a denomination, or an organization. But the Church is wherever the Gospel is rightly preached and the Sacraments are rightly administered. The Church is people living the life of Christ in the world. Pentecost celebrates that living reality. The Spirit gathers sinners around Christ. He calls people to Himself and our job is to reflect His glory. And maybe, just maybe the best way of doing that is a fire ball being blown out of a person's mouth...