Thus the LORD scattered them from there all over the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the speech of all the world. It was from that place that he scattered them all over the earth. (Gen 11:1-9)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022125.cfm
The story of the Tower of Babel finds its reversal on the Day of Pentecost in the Acts of the Apostles when everyone can hear the gospel in their own language. I remember when I was in seminary and driving to a neighboring town there was a billboard advertising the German-American National Bank: Wir sprechen Ihre Sprache (We speak your language). Speaking the language of the people is not only good business, it’s also good evangelization!
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Friday, Week VI, Ordinary Time
