A Pentecost message based on Acts 2:1-21.

The first incandescent light was created in 1841. It was patented by an inventor in England. Until a few days ago I was sure it happened in the US 😊. Powered by electricity the potential for this new light form was huge.

It was –

Brighter than a candle.
More convenient than a lantern.
Safer, in theory, than both.

People were excited about what might soon be.

Initial versions of this new light form were limited at best. Bulbs could only stay lit a few minutes. And they were expensive. Inventors of the era would often create one at a time, budget allowing, and hope for the best. After almost four decades of experimentation not too much had changed.

Enter Thomas Edison. In 1878 the renowned innovator announced a lofty goal: he would create the first commercially viable incandescent light. One that would be safe, bright, affordable and stay lit.

Edison set his sights high. He hoped to mass produce these bulbs in large quantities, all connected to an electric grid.

Because Edison, a man with over 1,000 patents to his name, realized something:

For many bulbs,
connected to the source,
would always be better than one.

Gathering a team of 20 men at his lab, the young inventor approached the project with confidence. But soon they too faced challenges. The team succeeded in getting a platinum filament lit. Yes! But platinum was expensive. The experiments continued.

Silk, cork, even beard hair from the employees was used. Nothing worked. But then, breakthrough. A carbon-based filament showed promise.

The bulb illuminated. And it stayed lit. For over half a day.

The full-page article in the December 21, 1879 New York Herald announced more. It is “the great inventor’s triumph,” the newspaper concludes, producing light “like the mellow sunset of an Italian autumn.”

The paper announced Edison would stage his first public light exhibit on New Year’s Eve. Excited pilgrims descended on Edison’s lab in droves, preparing for the big reveal.

When the exhibit opened December 31 hundreds of people surged into the laboratory. There they saw 25 brilliant electric lights ablaze, glistening off hundreds of glass bottles lining the walls.

It was a sight to behold.

The crowd huddled around Edison as he explained how a 2-inch long, horseshoe-shaped thread could glow so long. The awestruck audience noticed the bulbs didn’t flicker like gaslights. The light was softer than arc lamps. This new light source was better than anything anyone had ever seen.

As New Year’s Eve 1879 turned to New Year’s Day 1880 those gathered realized something.

This wasn’t just the start of a new decade.
A new era, for the world, had begun.

Edison’s first electric utility covered 85 households and 400 light bulbs. In a short time one light bulb had become –

Twenty-Five,
Four hundred,
More.

Initially only available to 20 lab assistants in Menlo Park New Jersey, soon the light would spread.

To other –

Cities,
States,
Countries,
Continents.

Regardless of people’s –

Gender
Orientation,
Race,
Ethnicity,
National origin,
Creed.

For this new light source was going global – to the tune of 8 billion bulbs, now in use, worldwide. Said differently, almost 90% of the world population has access to electricity and the illumination it brings.

Beginning
The stories of our ancient texts read similar. Light has been with us from the start.

God said, “let there be light,” and there was.
God saw that the light was good.

Similar to a candle or a lantern that first light worked just fine for a while. But then, two millennia ago, a new light entered the world. What came into being in him was light and life itself.

This new light shone brighter than what had come before.

Powered by the divine the potential for this new light was huge.

It provided –
Protection,
Purpose,
Possibilities,
Promise,

– of what better, brighter new days could bring.

The new light had a lofty goal:

It was not to be for just –
One people,
One tribe,
One land.

This new light, once deployed, was to be available for all.
Because the Creator realized something:

Many lights,
connected to the Source,
would always be better than one.

The new light had modest beginnings. Gathering a team of 12 together, the divine bakers dozen got to work.

Initial results were impressive.

Waters were calmed.
Multitudes fed.
Free healthcare given,
To all.

The new light taught,
How to love God,
How to love neighbor,
Without exception.

As bright as this new light was it too was somewhat confined.

Initially it was only available in –
One person,
One place,
One time.

While the new light was in one locale, people nearby shone brightly. But when the new light moved on? The light they left behind would slowly dim.

At one point the new light was snuffed out, seemingly forever.

That was not good.
But then it was back!

The team of twelve, who had been plugged into the Source for three years now, couldn’t help but wonder: would this new light ever be ready for mass production? Or would it be forever confined?

Then came the plan. You will receive power that never dims, the Source revealed. It will be enough to enlighten the world.

For many lights,
connected together,
will always be brighter than one.

The Source ascended.

The twelve went to tell the others. They told –

Brothers,
Sisters,
Family,
Friends.

One-hundred twenty gathered that day, in an upper room. They were excited about what could be. Even though they didn’t know exactly what was to come.

And then, BOOM, it happened. Breakthrough. A new light descended on each of them. It took the form of fire.

The one-hundred twenty were filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking with tongues from every nation.

The crowd huddled around to watch this grand event. They were amazed, yet confused.

“What does this mean,” the crowd asked?  “Could they be drinking?”
We are lit, yes, said Peter, but not from wine. For the day was still young.

Come, gather round, listen in to what this all means.

The crowd huddled around Peter. They learned how this fire connected to the Source of all that is. They learned how it burns brighter, and stronger than anything that ever was. Caught up in the excitement of it all, three thousand were added to their numbers that day.

The new light, which started as One, had become –

Twelve,
One-hundred twenty,
Three thousand.

This wasn’t the start of a new day.
It was so much more.

A new era, for the world, had begun.

Initially available to a small group of Middle Eastern men, soon the light would spread.

To other –
Cities,
Cultures,
Continents.

This new light too spread, regardless of people’s –

Gender,
Orientation,
Race,
Ethnicity,
National origin,
Well, anything.

Making it possible for the light of Christ to catch on like wildfire. And spread it did, to the ends of the earth. There are now over 2 Billion Christians worldwide.

Today
As we celebrate the birth of the Church let us remember that, through the Holy Spirit, we share a direct connection with our Creator that lives on.

The light of Christ, as guided by the Holy Spirit, encourages us to take up the mission of God, making life on earth as it is in heaven.

We too are called to –
Heal the sick,
Feed those without,
Love our neighbors,
Without exception.

Just as Jesus taught.
No need to do it alone.

We are drawn together by the Spirit to be in community with each other.

For many lights,
connected to the Source,
will always be better than one.
Amen.