All (not each) of them were filled

For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page, which includes Schmeling's current Living by the Word column as well as past magazine and blog content. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.

I learned many Bible stories by watching movies in Sunday school. They were those old-fashioned movies, shown on a reel-to-reel projector, that tried to portray the stories as some Cecil B. DeMille wannabe imagined they took place. They were seldom more than a few steps grander than the local Christmas pageant; most of the disciples basically wore fancy bathrobes.

The Pentecost movie was dramatic. They all had flames above their heads, and they closed their eyes as they mysteriously spoke in tongues. It was so exotic and a little scary.