There’s a wonderful story in the Old Testament in the Book of Genesis about power and pride. It seems that the people of a certain city felt so powerful and prideful that they decided they would build the tallest and sturdiest tower possible to demonstrate their unity and their might. However God saw their self-centeredness and their arrogance, and He confused their language so that they were unable to build the tower and scattered their forces. Hence the story of the Tower of Babel came to be…babbling in different languages and destroying their pride.

In today’s first reading, we have the very antithesis of the story of Babel. As the Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles, they are inflamed with enthusiasm. They go forth preaching God’s to all those gathered for the Feast in Jerusalem. And lo and behold, even though the apostles spoke only one language, all the visitors were able to understand in their own language. This certainly is reminiscent of the story in Genesis; and in a sense becomes a healing of the people.

The apostles were recognized their humanity after Jesus death and were more aware than ever of their dependence upon Him. In that humility God was able to work wonders through them and bring throngs of people to the faith.

This is certainly the story which is central to our whole celebration of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit made sense of all that had happened to Jesus in His death and Resurrection and the apostles were able to make sense to the people who listened to them.

And I was thinking how that is one of the most important roles of Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God makes sense out of life: God’s Spirit gives us direction and hope, a sense of purpose and meaning; a way to see life through God’s eyes and to trust in God’s ongoing presence and saving power among us.

May that Holy Spirit continue to guide our way and inflame our hearts with enthusiasm for His Words!