What Does it Take to Light a Fire?
Traditional Dancer from the Stanford University annual Powwow
The resounding beat of the native drum echoes in my heart and memory. I hear the drum and singing of the drum circle, inspiring the dancers’ feet and movement. The dancers strive to stay with the drum’s steady beat, allowing the pounding of the drum to express its message of peace and unity through every step and turn. There is freedom and individual expression in their dance, yet all dancers remain within the sacred circle together. Gathered as one nation, different American Indian tribes from far and near gather as one community, one family with deep mutual respect in celebration of all life and the legacy of their ancestors and heritage. The traditional powwow has developed into its present form to unite people of hundreds of tribes desiring to reconnect once more with the Creator and with one another. In the center of the sacred circle, traditional dancers express themselves through footwork and bodily movements to tell different stories, celebrate life and creation, honor those who have died, respect the elderly and instill hope in the young.
Between the ages of 10 to 12, I had the privilege of attending several powwows with my father and siblings. At the time, he was a director for an American Indian council that supported indigenous peoples in central California. A descendent of the Chumash Tribe, my father is proud of the work he did for this organization, directing programming that helped improve their quality of life. On a few occasions, he and I would rise early to mix the dough for Indian fry bread to sell at a nearby powwow. After setting up the food booth, I was free to explore the park and continued to hear the drum beat even though I couldn’t see the drummers. As I got closer to the dancers, I’d hear the singers as well as the drum. I enjoyed watching the traditional dancers, each with unique and brilliantly colored regalia as they displayed their distinct steps and style. They would dance together and move in one direction in the sacred circle. Sacred because of the reverence and honor given to the Creator and mother earth, the intentional prayers offered in thanksgiving for their lives, their communities and the heritage of their ancestors.
All people, regardless of ethnic background or creed, are welcome to attend public powwows. Certain dances at a powwow, such as an intertribal dance that promotes peace, include all attendees who wish to participate. I sometimes danced in this particular dance. Over the years, I have learned that I am also part of that sacred circle, that we are each part of the circle of humankind, connected to one another in its eternal loop. It can be a spiritual experience to observe, listen and also to participate in a powwow. Even just to notice the deeper meaning of its symbols can open our eyes to greater truths. The drum is the heartbeat of mother earth. The sacred circle includes and honors all life, inviting each of us to join in. The dancing, from the regalia to the style of dance, holds stories of the deep sorrow as well as the joys of generations of indigenous peoples.
As I reflect on the sacred circle of the powwow, the constant beat of the drum, and the dancers within the circle, I am moved by the symbolic meaning it offers for our Church and its beginning, which we celebrate as Pentecost. Questions arise in my heart. What prompts one to enter into that circle? And why do some remain outside of it?
From Powwows to Pentecost
It might seem disjointed that I would now begin a reflection on Pentecost, the birth of the Church celebrated 50 days after Easter Sunday. What does a powwow have to do with this gift of the Holy Spirit that inspired the first disciples to speak in tongues and to spread the Gospel? Here, I use the powwow as a metaphor for the Church, the instrument of God’s unconditional love and mercy for God’s people here on earth. We begin with the story of Pentecost from Acts 2:1-11.
And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they [Jesus’ disciples & Mary] were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. In Jerusalem, devout Jews from every nation under heaven gathered together–each heard their own native language from the Galileans, ‘We hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty works of God.’
Out of the event of Pentecost, St. Paul speaks about the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to each one of us in his First Letter to the Corinthians (12:3-7, 12-13).
[There are]...different kinds of spiritual gifts…different forms of service…[but the] same Lord, different workings…[the] same God who produces all of them in everyone. As a body is one though it has many parts…. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and were all given to drink of one Spirit.
Just as the dancers in the sacred circle wear their own regalia and dance with their own footwork and style, they also abide in the circle with the other dancers heading in the same direction. As members of the body of Christ are called to follow Christ in whatever capacity they are able, they flow in the sacred circle of the people of God as Church.
Just as the drum beat echoes the heartbeat of mother earth, so the Holy Spirit fills us with the rhythm of our calling, drawing us ever closer toward the God of all creation. Together, as one in the Spirit, we are led toward the heart of God.
Just as the various indigenous peoples from all over the earth gather together and celebrate life, offering their dance for others, for the elderly and the young, for their community and unity of purpose, so, too, we are called to spread the Gospel for others to know God and God’s love and join in the Church community. For us, it is not an individual endeavor but one that draws us together as the body of Christ.
As the body of Christ, we participate in the motion of the Trinity, the interactive relationship between God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit.* As I wrote in an earlier blog, the Trinity can be described as a circular dance (perichoresis).** This circle dance embraces relationship, encounter, and movement: all words that attempt to describe the mysterious interaction of the Trinity and our connection with it. The Trinity is not static, but always in motion as it flows in and out of the expanse of the universe. As I write, I am struck by how powerfully the sacred circle, the drum and the dancing in a powwow mimics the circular dance of the Trinity just described. These connections allow for further discussion about our response to Pentecost, the call to spread Jesus’ message to all ends of the earth. As we explore this topic, it’s important to note that the message of Pentecost originates in the Hebrew Scriptures, in the time before Jesus’ life on earth.
Pentecost in Hebrew Scriptures
Hebrew Scriptures tell us that God’s Spirit has been present since the beginning of time. Ximena DeBroeck, writer for Give Us This Day***, articulates that the Spirit was active in the creation of the world (Gen 1:2) and in the breath of Adam (Gen 2:7). The Spirit led the Israelites away from Egypt in a pillar of fire (Exod 13:21-22) and, as a strong wind, parted the waters to help them cross the Red Sea (Exod 14:21). When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, “the Spirit of the Lord came down, as fire, to meet the people in Sinai” (Exod 19:18). The Lord then instructed the people to keep a memorial feast called Weeks–Shavuot in Hebrew, Pentecost in Greek (Exod 34:22; Lev 23:15-22; Num 28:26-31).
The celebration of the Jewish Feast of Pentecost prepares us for Acts 2:1-11 when the Holy Spirit came as wind and fire, infusing the hearts of the first disciples with an ability to speak in tongues and a desire to spread the Good News. This literally burning desire within prompts us all to movement in the circle dance of the Trinity. We enter into the sacred circle and we “dance” with our own unique steps and movements, expanding the circle and allowing others to join. The gift of our free will allows us the space to step in and to move outside of the circle. Yet, when we enter we become a part of a greater mystery, the Body of Christ. In the words of Chief Seattle of the Duwamish Tribe, “When you know who you are; when your mission is clear, and you burn with the inner fire of unbreakable will; no cold can touch your heart; no deluge can dampen your purpose. You know that you are alive.”
What Prompts Us to Enter the Circle Dance?
How do we respond to the celebration of the birth of the Church? I ponder this question with a yearning for all of us to have an openness to the central teachings of Christ. Ximena DeBroeck asks some poignant questions. “On Pentecost, we receive this same gift of life and liberation [as the Israelites did in Exodus], the gift of God’s guidance and presence. How is this significant for each of us and for the Church? It invites us, first of all, to start from a place of gratitude for the gift received. But it also challenges us to accept the guidance offered. Can we, as a community of believers, imagine ourselves gathered together in the Upper Room [where the first disciples hid after Jesus’ crucifixion and where Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection], allowing the Spirit to guide us? What language (tongues) must we use today to be modern-day prophets who proclaim the Good News of the mighty works of God, such that all hear in their own ‘native language’?”
As I continue to imagine the first Pentecost, I’d like to share some thoughts from one of my recent journal entries:
What does it take to light a fire beneath our feet–to cause us to move, to go out, to go forth, to be active in our faith– Instead of standing still in judgment, studying the sin of others, focusing on all that is evil, clinging to the past, standing rigidly in place, not welcoming movement, change–which the Holy Spirit calls us to– If I am to be a disciple, a follower of Christ, might it be better for me to focus on becoming more Christ-like? Love, mercy, tenderness–the style of God that Pope Francis reminds us of– not judgment, not condemnation, not rigidity or clinging to the old ways of thinking.
Pentecost created unity and understanding (everyone spoke in different languages but were understood by the diverse crowds of people). By the fire of the Holy Spirit, the early Church was called to move, to go forth, to preach Christ’s message of love, mercy and tenderness (ie remove the plank from my own eye first, love my enemies, speak even to unbelievers–the Samaritan woman at the well, the Roman centurion). His time with those of differing religions, traditions, gentiles, women, the untouchables (lepers, those with physical deformities or ailments, the poor, the orphaned) was never wasted. Never did Jesus say: stand in judgment, separate yourselves, be elite, cling to your rituals, fear change. He did say: Blessed are the merciful, the meek, the mourning, those who suffer for the sake of Christ. He said the greatest commandments were to love the Lord, our God, with our whole heart, mind and soul. He also said to treat others as we wish to be treated. Never did Jesus say: Women are less than men and therefore cannot image me (an argument used against the ordination of women). He even granted the request of the Syro-Phoenician woman because of her persistence (even dogs get scraps from the table). He appeared to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection before anyone else.
Never did Jesus ask these questions before he healed someone: Are you going to synagogue every week? Are you in your first marriage? Are you following all the laws and rituals of the Temple? Are you having an extra-marital affair? Jesus even celebrated the first Eucharist with his betrayer, washing Judas’ feet along with the other apostles.
Today, we might imagine what Jesus does not ask before He offers us love and mercy: Are you without sin? Are you perfectly following the Church’s teachings? Do you attend Mass every Sunday? Have you been to Confession? While we believe these questions can guide our spiritual growth and help us to open our hearts to Jesus, we know that Jesus’ love and mercy do not depend on anything that we do.
How can we expand the circular dance of the Trinity? What if we simply paid attention to the teachings of Jesus and allowed those words to shape our lives? What if, instead of promoting the ideologies that divide and exclude, we just worked on becoming more merciful to everyone? For example, is it our job to protect Christ by excluding certain individuals from receiving Eucharist because we don’t see them as worthy? What would happen if we allowed all to receive Christ, instead of denying Communion to a few? If we pay attention to Christ’s life and teachings, we would find that Jesus does not need us to protect Him. Jesus offers us fullness of life and offers it to all who seek it, however imperfectly (which is all we can say for ourselves!). Humbly, we can admit that we can be more accepting and less judgmental of anyone who wishes to participate in the Body of Christ as Church. Doing so allows us to build up the Church instead of creating insurmountable barriers for some. I propose a Church that reflects God’s vision, guided by the Holy Spirit of Pentecost.
Pentecost and Our Need for Humility
Even God reminds us that we don’t know it all, that we haven’t figured God out. I often return to this theme because I believe our egos get the best of us, causing us to hesitate or even refuse to enter the sacred circle. Without trying to accept our limitations, we won’t be fully open to the Holy Spirit sometimes taking us where we don’t want to go. Instead, we may unconsciously presume to know in what direction we are called to go, even better than God. The circle dance of the Trinity requires us to let go of preconceptions and prejudices. In this powerful example of the Hebrew Scriptures, God confronts the Prophet Job who has questioned God’s power and motives:
Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: ‘Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?…Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone–while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shout for joy? Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’?...Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!” (Read all of Job 38-40 for the full discourse between God and Job).
After God points out all that God created and set in motion, Job is humbled, realizing he does not know God’s mind or vision. “I am unworthy–how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth…” Job’s eyes are opened to the truth that he knows only what God has chosen to reveal. We, too, often think we know God’s whole vision and what God wants, when in reality we know only part of it. I further suggest that we sometimes idolize the Church to the point that She can never be questioned, can never grow or change because She has it all figured out. Yet, the Holy Spirit continues to work in the Church, guiding Her to fuller understanding of the revelation of Jesus. While it may seem a painstakingly slow process to some, be assured that there is movement and growth ever pointing us toward life in the Trinity.
Jesus even challenges Peter after the Resurrection. He tells Peter that he will go where he does not wish to go and will suffer for the sake of Christ’s message. When Peter questions whether or not the Beloved Disciple will suffer in the same way, Jesus replies, “What is that to you? You follow me.” (see John 21:15-24) Mind your business, Peter. You follow me. Don’t fret about what I call others to do for the sake of my greater vision. The only person you can and should control is yourself.
I imagine the sacred circle of our Church, those who step into the circle and allow the beat of the drum, the Holy Spirit, to move and guide their steps. I see those who stand outside the circle and watch, the young people who search for authenticity and a reason to trust and wait for a time to possibly rejoin the dance, young and old who feel unwelcomed because of their sexual identity, lifestyle or heritage, the older generations who stand with one foot in and one foot out, unsure of where the Church is headed. Yet, they still hear the beat of the drum and can watch the dancers. Some stand further away, arms folded as they barely hear the drum’s beat. They focus on trivialities and ritual, they focus on what they think they can control but are forgetting what it means to live in the heart of Christ. They make it more difficult for some people to feel welcomed into the body of Christ, as if that will secure their spot in heaven.
If Pentecost teaches us anything, let it teach us an awareness and appreciation for the diversity in our Church as well as the many languages of our liturgical celebrations, along with the countless customs and rituals unique to different cultures around the globe. Let us remember that our language is not the language of the Church, but one of many.
Pope Francis says it so well. This excerpt comes from his 2022 Pentecost homily. I encourage you to read it in its entirety. (https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2022/documents/20220605-omelia-pentecoste.html )
[The Holy Spirit] teaches the Church how to walk. The disciples were cowering in the Upper Room; the Spirit then came down and made them go forth. Without the Spirit, they were alone, by themselves, huddled together. With the Spirit, they were open to all. In every age, the Spirit overturns our preconceived notions and opens us to his newness. God, the Spirit, is always new! He constantly teaches the Church the vital importance of going forth, impelled to proclaim the Gospel. The importance of our being, not a secure sheepfold, but an open pasture where all can graze on God’s beauty. He teaches us to be an open house without walls of division. The worldly spirit drives us to concentrate on our own problems and interests, on our need to appear relevant, on our strenuous defense of the nation or group to which we belong. That is not the way of the Holy Spirit. He invites us to forget ourselves and to open our hearts to all. In that way, he makes the Church grow young. We need to remember this: the Spirit rejuvenates the Church….[The Spirit] beckons us to walk his paths, ever ancient and ever new, the paths of witness, poverty and mission, and in this way, he sets us from ourselves and sends us forth into the world.
You follow me.
Song for Contemplation: “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack (2000)
Blog Notes:
*For simplicity and coherence in writing, I have used the male categories for Trinity, but with an acknowledgement that God is beyond gender.
**See my blog “How to Dance with the Holy Spirit.” www.catholicwonder.com/blog/how-to-dance-with-the-holy-spirit
***Give Us This Day “Within the Word,” written by Ximena DeBroeck, pp 68-69, June 2022. (GUTD is a prayer resource I read daily for the day’s scripture readings and prayers. It’s available in digital format (as an app) and in hard copy (as monthly booklets); the website is www.gutd.org.
