Pentecost Sunday

Here is my Homily for Pentecost.  The link below leads to the readings for both  the Vigil Mass and the Sunday Mass.  As you'll see, I reference the first reading for both.  I hope your Easter Season was a blessed one and that your Ordinary time will be holy as well.

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/060814.cfm

          A person doesn’t have to have a degree in linguistics to know that understanding a language is important for communicating.  If you have ever traveled overseas, you quickly learn the importance of knowing the language of the people.  Even if you travel to someplace that speaks English, it can be a unique experience learning the local dialect.  Canadians might talk to you about having a good “batt’ry” in you car for winter driving and will remind you to wear a hat that is often called a “toque” (pronounced TOOK) when going outside.  In Great Brittan, if you’re brave enough to rent a car over there, you put your luggage in the “boot” in the rear of the car and to check your oil you would need to look under the “bonnet” in the front.  After being completely frustrated about how they drive over there you might want to go back to your hotel, or you might be renting a “flat” or a “bungalow”,  and just sit back a watch the “telly” for a bit while munching on some fish and “chips”.  As you can probably tell, I enjoy learning about different regional terms for the same object. 

          It gets all the more interesting of course when you get into countries that use a very different language altogether.  Last spring I went on a pilgrimage to Bosnia and Herzegovina.  I was with an English speaking guide, and many of the locals spoke at least some English, but that didn’t mean it was always smooth sailing.  I found that I often needed to be patient until I could figure out what to do next.  There were also a lot of Italians there spending some vacation time.  They would buy various religious articles (rosaries, holy cards, medals, etc.) and would look for a priest to bless them.  I would often be walking around in my black clerical garb and a group of Italians would approach me, talking to me in their native language.  I would of course be left looking at them with a bewildered look on my face.  Eventually, they would show me their religious items and would say something like “benedicio” which reminded me of “benediction” or blessing.  I would then bless their objects.  It always amazes me how we can still learn to communicate, even with a language barrier. 

          Today's Feast of Pentecost draws our focus on understanding what God is saying to us.  In this case, it isn't about knowing the right language, because God speaks all languages.  This is about realizing that God is speaking to us, and allowing the grace of God to help us hear what is being spoken.  That grace is what we receive through the Holy Spirit. 

          There are many readings throughout Sacred Scripture that talk about the Spirit and the gifts that we receive from Him, but I've found that there are just two readings that really help illustrate our relationship with God.  One is from the Old Testament; the other is from the New Testament. 

          The Old Testament reading I'm referring to is the story of the Tower of Babel as found in the Book of Genesis.  On the surface, this looks to be a neat little story that is meant to help explain why there are so many different languages in the world today.  When we start examining the story a little deeper, however, we can see that it is symbolic of humanity's relationship with God.  The people of the story decide to build a great tower towards the sky to make a name for themselves.  In other words, they wish to make themselves equal to God.    Their plan is rooted in their own self-pride: they think of themselves as so powerful and strong that they will be able to build this monstrosity all on their own.  God responds by “confusing their language” as is said in the scripture passage.  He does this, not because He is a God who likes to spoil all the fun of mere mortals on Earth, but because He wishes to teach them humility. 

          When we look at the relationship between God and humans we see many similarities with this scripture.  When sin entered into Adam and Eve, they no longer were satisfied with being God's most beloved creation, but decided to focus on doing their own thing.  Even today, when any of us sin, we are essentially making ourselves into gods, trying to do our own thing and making a name for ourselves.  God has very little choice but to teach us humility, so that we can learn that we can't do it all on our own, but that we need God's help.

          The New Testament reading that pairs up with Babel is the story of Pentecost in the Acts of the Apostles.  This story is steeped in symbolism as well.  Notice that the faithful are gathered together in one room, they are humbled, praying and asking for God's help rather than being boastful like the people of Babel.  Suddenly there is a noise like a driving the wind that fills the house.  Whenever we hear the words “wind” or “breath” in Scripture, we should think of the Holy Spirit, because wind, breath, and spirit are all the same word in Hebrew and are symbolic of each other in the Bible.  Tongues of flame appear above them and they are filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking in many different languages.  In case we are tempted to think that they are only babbling or talking in gibberish, we are told that many people from all over the Roman Empire were there and are amazed that they can understand what is being spoken.  Make no mistake, we are meant to read this and realize that this is a reversal of the punishment of Babel.  Earlier, many people are scattered by many languages.  Now many languages come together as many people come to realize the mighty power of God.

          This is symbolic of us as well.  We have received the Holy Spirit in Baptism and Confirmation.  It is only through the Holy Spirit that we can finally understand what God has been trying to tell all of humanity from the beginning of time:  trust in me; I will guide to paradise. 

          We might not always understand what God is doing or saying to us.  Sin does that to us.  But the Holy Spirit helps us get past that and understand what He wants us to do.  We will finally get that message, and it is a message of love.