The church loves to hear again and again the story of what she calls her "birthday" Pentecost. Too often, however, this becomes a day of mere self-congratulations and reminiscences, a moment for being impressed with how powerful the Holy Spirit once seemed in the life of the church, how strong the witness of the new church once appeared.

But in Acts, Luke's version of the Holy Spirit's dramatic descent into the midst of the disciples was not intended as some vain vaunting of the church's erstwhile power or importance. In actuality, details of the Holy Spirit's arrival however impressive constitute the smallest part of today's lectionary reading. Luke is far less concerned with the Holy Spirit's awesome manifestations than he is about how the disciples respond to this life-altering gift.

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