Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Today is the great feast of Pentecost.
One of the optional readings for this weekend is the story of the Tower of Babel which is found in the Book of Genesis 11:1-9. In that account the people wanted to build a tower as tall as the sky. It seems that they wanted to climb up to Heaven, to the place where God lives. In fact, they wanted to replace God and make a name for themselves. However, when God saw what the people were doing, he destroyed the tower, because God knew the futility of their efforts. He confused their language so that they could not conspire to attempt a climb to Heaven again. God knows — and so should we — that no one can reach Heaven on their own power. We are not strong enough, smart enough, or good enough to attain Heaven on our own merits.
But God did have a plan to restore the people to Him. He wanted to reverse the separation caused by the sin of Adam and Eve in Eden. Instead of people trying to reach Heaven on their own, God would come down to them and lead them to what we all desire — perfect communion, harmony and peace with each other and with God.
This happened in the birth of Jesus Christ. In him, we find the presence of God walking with us. Through faith, we cling to Christ who carries us back to Heaven. He is the way to our eternal home as we walk in his footsteps.
So where does the Holy Spirit come in?
We see the Holy Spirit powerfully described in the reading from the Acts of the Apostles this morning. In that passage a noise like a strong driving wind fills the house of the disciples, tongues as of fire appear and rest on each of them, and they are all filled with the Holy Spirit. And then what happens? They begin to speak in different languages, but they are able to understand each other.
It is the reversal of the story of Babel. God takes away the confusion of the various languages of the Earth.
To take this one step further, remember that St. Paul says that no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 12:3). This is our common proclamation. No matter in what language we say it, it is true for all of us who believe in Jesus.
The language that brings us together as the People of God, then, is the language of our faith. It is our common faith that allows us to receive God who comes to us in the person of Jesus and continues to energize us by the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives birth to a Church that is universal (Catholic), as well as one, holy, and apostolic. As a Church, Jesus takes us on a pilgrimage through this life until we find our home in eternity — our final destination — where we will be made into saints.
Today, on Pentecost, may we be filled with the Holy Spirit again — may we be united in proclaiming our common faith in Jesus Christ — and may we be thankful to God: because we could not climb up to him, so he came down to us. God has come from Heaven to us so that we can find our home in God. He became one of us, so that we could become one with Him. This is what the Holy Spirit teaches us and encourages us to believe. Have faith. God saves us. Good News!
Happy Pentecost everyone and have a week that is filled with the Spirit.