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Pentecost: Two Kinds of People Pentecost-- the final sign. It's got me remembering the M. Knight Shayamalan movie, Signs. Perhaps the crux of the movie comes with this word from Graham Hess (played by Mel Gibson) to his brother Merrill as they are pondering the phenomenon of the lights in the sky.
"People break down into two groups when the experience something lucky. Group number one sees it as more than luck, more than coincidence. They see it as a sign, evidence, that there is someone up there, watching out for them. Group number two sees it as just pure luck. Just a happy turn of chance. I'm sure the people in Group number two are looking at those fourteen lights in very suspicious way. For them, the situation isn't fifty-fifty. Could be bad, could be good. But deep down, they feel that whatever happens, they're on their own. And that fills them with fear. Yeah, there are those people. But there's a whole lot of people in the Group number one. When they see those fourteen lights, they're looking at a miracle. And deep down, they feel that whatever's going to happen, there will be someone their to help them. And that fills them with hope. See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?"
As I have read through Acts 2 this past week this verse has captured my attention and reflection:
12So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" 13Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."
Two kinds of people. . . . . . right?
Labels: passion year, quotes
posted by John David Walt | at 5/16/2005 10:53:00 PM
Today...
3 Comments:
- i love this. This is inculturation. This is incarnation. great insight, JD
- i've been wondering about the statement " they were all in one place together" - does that mean they were all in aggreement; and in what sense? People often come together on many different terms - some come together out of mutual fear, and not mutual faith. Was it necessary in order for the spirit to come on their part - or was anything necessary at all - was it just in God's time?
- And are we speaking in languages that the world of unbelievers understands? Or are we mostly talking in some post-modern Christian "speak" that has lost its impact on the unchurched (and maybe the churched for that matter)
- maybe that's why mercy IS justice - because its a universal language that never changes, no matter how much pop culture changes the vernacular.
thanks matt-- say more about that comment-- "Mercy IS Justice." I like that idea. want to hear more.
- we enter into relationship with the Father through the Son - and we are spared what we deserve
- Jesus is God's justice made flesh - the cross is where God's justice becomes His mercy and vice versa- where God exercises His judgment on mankind for His sin - but He exercises it onto Himself by virtue of His mercy. When you're baptized, you've been washed of original sin, but you're not relieved of responsibility to this covenant. It's like, "alright - you're in. And guess what? Now that you're in, the measure to which you judge will be the measure to which you yourself are judged That is merciful in my mind.
- when we live out our lives, is it in constant awareness of this gift - or do we turn a blind eye to how our thankfulness is lived out in how we treat others ? ESPECIALLY with the poor and non-believers. That's sort of what i've been thinking.
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