The New Pentecost

By Harry C. Kiely

For those who re-discover their faith by taking seriously the vision offered in the second chapter of the book of Acts, the Occupy movement may appear to them as the New Pentecost. Note the similarities between the ancient story of the Resurrection and the contemporary movement:

• In Acts, the emergence of new power occurred when the gossip about the Resurrection became a life-empowering message that transcended all lingual differences: “each heard in his own language.” Likewise in Occupy Wall Street, in the development of a new means of communication, people of diverse backgrounds both spoke and heard in a common language because they shared a vision of new community.
• The roster of nationalities was inclusive of Parthians, Medes, Elamites, back then, and New Yorkers, Californians, Alabamans, and Washingtonians—ad infinity—today. There was a commonality about the message that only those who had been left behind by empire greed were able to comprehend.
• Perplexed, uninvolved citizens were bowled over, not simply by the diversity of involvement, but essentially by the commonality of communication of these disenfranchised masses. “What the hell’s going on?” they demanded. “Too much booze,” came the answer.

To those who paid attention, though, some minor miracles could be noted. Deprived of loud speaker technology, for example, they invented a more human method of broadcast. Lacking duly appointed or elected leaders, the newly evolved community devised more human ways of organizing. In contrast to Wall Street methodology, the newly resurrected community shared their food and goods with one another.

Overall, a more human community had spun out of nowhere, not fully aware of either its source or its destiny, but confident that a new vision and a new voice was emerging. That vision carried with it the promise of hope that is slowly overcoming a culture corrupted by the god of greed.
When perplexed onlookers inquired about this unexpected grace, a man called Peter cited an ancient prophet named Joel:

“In the last day, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophecy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” (Acts 2:15-18)

Emerging out of the New Pentecost is the promise of a New Creation that will transcend the endless, hollow, self-destructive promises of raging empires.

--Harry C. Kiely
3142 Gracefield Rd. #214
Silver Spring, MD 20904
hckiely@comcast.net