They Were All in One Place Together
This Pentecost, we humbly share the prophetic message of a bold and unafraid Palestinian people resisting genocide with resilient hope. Theologian, peace activist, and humanitarian Omar Haramy of Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center writes, “Palestinian Liberation theology hears Pentecost as the sound of a new community rising ... A Pentecost church does not remain silent in the face of war, racism or genocide.” We receive Brother Omar’s call to action, to break the silence and speak truth in the face of violence — until liberation and freedom are realized. It is our duty.
Together,
Rev. Dr. Waltrina Middleton
Executive Director
#FreePalestine
They Were All in One Place Together
Pentecost is the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, empowering them to speak in many languages and boldly proclaim the message of Jesus. It marks the birth of the Church — a movement transformed from fear to courageous public witness.
What I love about Pentecost is that it begins with a noise from the sky — a holy disruption — and, for once, the disciples not only hear it, but they respond. That moment is more than a spectacle; it is transformation. A church once chained by fear, locked behind closed doors, is suddenly propelled into the streets. This is not the same church that denied Jesus, betrayed him, and argued over who was the greatest. This is a church reborn — bold, messy, unafraid.
The Spirit did not come with doctrines, manuals, or instructions for neatness and order. The Spirit came with fire, wind, and confusion. And in that confusion, something sacred happened. People from every nation heard the good news in their own language. No one was excluded. This was not a church waiting for permission or recognition. It was a church stepping out — willing to look foolish, willing to be misunderstood, willing to risk everything for justice and love.
Palestinian Liberation theology hears Pentecost as the sound of a new community rising — one that stands in contrast to empire, hierarchy, and every form of domination. The Spirit doesn’t descend into a temple or a palace, but among the people — among the wounded, the uncertain, the poor in spirit. And from them, a new voice emerges.
This church is diverse, inclusive, and radically open. It communicates in every language, because it refuses to let culture, race, or geography divide it. It is not a church obsessed with meetings and formality. It is a church in motion — breathing life, calling for justice. A church that takes risks — not for power, but for solidarity. Not for safety, but for the sake of the oppressed peoples of history.
Pentecost teaches us that the Spirit gives us not just words, but witness. A Pentecost church does not remain silent in the face of war, racism or genocide. It may not have the power to stop every injustice, but it does have the duty to stand with the victims, to suffer with them, to speak truth in the face of violence — until liberation and freedom are realized. The church protects, supports, and acts — because it knows that real faith never hides when the fire falls. On the contrary, it should be the first to stand in the way.
Pentecost is not a one-time event. It is a call to become. A call to be a church that hears the noise from the sky — and finds the faith to build the courage to respond. Together.