Tower of Babylon
Today our first reading speaks about the famous Tower of
Babylon. A little context may be helpful to put this in perspective.
Genesis 10 is what is sometimes called the “table of nations” that lists
the nations which stem from Noah’s three sons: Japheth (10:2-5),
Ham (10:6-20), and Shem (10:21-31). While there is one human
family, in this chapter we see that they are not united. Some of the
descendants listed are well-known enemies of each other.
This brings us to the Tower of Babel in chapter 11, which
demonstrates the chaos at the time. Let’s look more closely at it.
First, we hear that the people migrated from the east. This
reminds us of Adam and Eve, who were banished to the east (Gn.
3:24). Cain, too, was driven to the east (Gn. 4:16). In other words, it
is not a good sign that they are coming from the east (i.e., a place of
banishment).
They say, “Come, let us mold bricks and harden them with fire.”
Here, we wonder if they are mocking God who said, ““Let us make
human beings in our image, after our likeness” (Gen. 1:26).
They do so to make a “name” for themselves. In Hebrew, Shem
means “name.” In other words, the descendants of Ham want to
make a “Shem” for themselves. Shem had received God’s blessing.
These descendants, however, want to by their own leaders. They will
try to achieve their own blessing by building a city and tower with its
top to the sky. In other words, we have an example of a secularized
civilization attempting to make a “name” for itself without God.
In response, God scatters the people and confuses their
language. Notice that God “came down” to do this. Apparently, their
attempt to build a tower to heaven was unsuccessful!
Today’s first reading has its counterpart in the Acts of the
Apostles with Pentecost. God comes down as the Holy Spirit. He does
not scatter the people, but brings them together. And in contrast to
confused language, the people understand each other’s language.
In short, sin scatters. God gathers. May we ask for that “new
wine” (Acts 2:13) or the Holy Spirit so that He may use us as
instruments to gather together all those we meet by bringing them to
Christ.