The Tower of Babel

“Therefore it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:9)

It is estimated that there are nearly 7,000 languages spoken in the world today. Why there are so many different languages and how this came to be is explained to us through the story of the Tower of Babel. The story also gives an explanation of how humanity spread throughout the world.
The builders of the tower began their work with the intention of “making a name for ourselves.” They wanted to connect the earth with the heavens, while seeking to increase their own fame and glory. God did not approve of this. As a consequence, He confused the language of the builders. This led to greater separation between nations. Today, this distance can be overcome not only by learning foreign languages but also by making an effort to understand one another.
The counterpart of the Tower of Babel is the story of Pentecost, when people speaking different languages were able to understand the apostles through the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not have to travel to a foreign country to meet people with whom we struggle to communicate. Often there is misunderstanding even among those who speak the same language and share the same faith.
People have repeatedly tried to create a common language through which they could easily understand one another. Yet they did not need to search for one, because the biblical writings have spoken for thousands of years about a special language: the language of love. Blessed are those who know and use this language. Amen.

PRAYER: My God, I thank You for love. I thank You for watching over me. Teach us also to speak the language of love, so that we may understand one another better. Amen.