Pentecost: Unity in diversity

In the book of Genesis 11:1-9, we read the famous account of the Tower of Babel where the sinful pride of man was the catalyst for building the Tower. They sought to build their unity apart from God by “making a name for themselves” through building a tower that would ‘reach heaven’. So the LORD God divided this false unity for the sake of man’s salvation that man might seek and find Him instead of toiling for their own selfish gain. He caused division among the people by giving them all different languages to speak so they could not understand each other and would be forced to relinquish their efforts in building the tower and also live apart from each other in the land.

Indeed at the time, division was needed in order for proud men to seek God, but after the centuries past, we see Christ, the Messiah come into the world to cause people to find unity in His name (Luke 4:18-19). In the Church today we see people of different cultural backgrounds and languages coming together in humility, faith, love and worship of Christ. This unity in Christ is established through Baptism in the name of the Trinity and adoption into God’s family (Galatians 3:26-29) and partaking in Christ’s Body and Blood; The Holy Eucharist as commanded by our Lord in order to abide with Him (John 6:56).

So if we are a part of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians12:12) and are united in His name, how are we to also work to create unity in faith in the diversity of this world? We can learn how to go about it through looking to Christ Himself and His Apostles.

As we commemorate the Feast of Pentecost this Sunday, we see how God began to draw the Church together after Christ’s ascension. The name ‘Pentecost’ originates from the Greek which means ‘fifty days’; as this promised day of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles (John14:16-17) took place fifty days after Christ’s resurrection.

We read in Acts 2:1-12 that on this important day, the Apostles received the Holy Spirit through what appeared to be tongues of fire which sat upon each of them (Acts 2:3). This confirms the prophesy that was spoken by John the Baptist that Christ would; “Baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Luke 3:16).

After receiving the Holy Spirit, The Apostles starting speaking in other tongues (lishaneh), meaning languages of other nations. So much so, that a multitude of men from other nations came and heard them speaking about God in their own languages to their astonishment as they understood the Israelite born Apostles speaking their various languages. Even the Mesopotamians (Assyrians) are mentioned to be standing there in amazement (Acts 2:5-12).

This is a fulfilment of prophecy that was spoken through the Prophet Joel; “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations” (Joel 3:1). In stark contrast to the division that was caused to mankind through the confusion of languages due to their pride and building the tower of Babel, now through faithful humility and receiving the Holy Spirit, mankind from all nations of the world are able to hear and understand the saving word of God in their own tongue, and be united through the Apostles teaching.

As baptized Christians of the 21^st Century, we too, like the Apostles can speak the language of others in order to share the gospel and God’s love with them. If we haven’t been blessed with the gift of speaking or interpreting tongues (meaning languages of other nations 1 Corinthians 12:7-11), we can still “speak someone’s language” in another sense.

Just as St. Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 9:20-23; He had become a Jew to the Jews that he might win the Jews, and he became a Gentile to the Gentiles that he might win the Gentiles to the Lord. To ‘become’ as one of these non-believers does not mean that we participate in their sinful or ignorant actions, but rather, we learn how to “speak their language” or understand where they are coming from in life in order to relate with them and through God’s guidance and timing, share the gospel with them and invite them along to Church where they can be nurtured and united in the ‘Body of Christ’.

This Pentecost Sunday, let us be reminded that just as the Apostles received the Holy Spirit and were chosen to unite the nations of the world within the Church through sharing the gospel in various languages, so we, Baptized sons and daughters of the Church should also work to bring “outsiders” in, to unite them with Christ, while importantly making sure that we who belong to the Church are standing united in the Body of Christ and are all speaking ‘His language’ with one another.

For you are all sons [children] of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26-28

This week’s song: Here am I send me – Mercy Me