Pondering the Word …

The passage about Babel from Genesis sets up such a great backdrop for the story of Pentecost, the time when the Spirit introduces a whole new way of understanding, regardless of the actual language we speak. (Note that in the reading from Acts today, it says the members of the crowd “heard” the Apostles in their own native language). But why did God decide to “confuse” languages in the first place?

Relying on the writings of Old Testament scholar, Walter Brueggemann, I came across an explanation so timely for us. By looking to settle in one place, the nomads “attempt to secure their future isolated from the rest of the world. …Human concern for self-preservation places the rest of the creation at risk. …God promotes diversity at the expense of unity that seeks to preserve itself in isolation from the rest of creation” (A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament, Birch, Brueggemann, Fretman, Peterson. pp 57-58, emphasis added).

One can consider the Feast of Pentecost in this way: Scripture, divinely inspired, is the story of humanity’s relationship to and with the Divine, documenting our growth from tribal, violent self-preservation, to a chosen tribe based on a loving God; then, to the idea that this merciful God’s “spirit will be poured out on ALL flesh,” (Joel). Jesus comes to unite “all creation to labor TOGETHER” Romans), “to drink of ONE Spirit” (Corinthians).

In this world of dramatic alienation and division, we need this feast of Pentecost more than ever!

Elaine Ireland