(Homily for February 17, 2017).
The story
of the Tower of Babel is one that teaches a lesson in humility. It tells of how
humanity as a whole took advantage of their ability to understand each other
and set out to erect a building that would challenge the supremacy of God.
Having been created in the image and likeness of God, there is an element of
God in every human being. We have what it takes to imagine, to speak forth
creation, to control and dominate the forces of nature and so on but then, no
matter how we try, we cannot take the place of God. God created us to be like
him simply out of his own gracious will and pleasure not so that we can
dethrone him.
Hence, in
as much as we have unlimited greatness within us, we are also laden with lots
and lots of limitations. The existence of these limitations is what makes us
different from God and it is what should make us bow down and worship God. One
of such limitations we have as humans is our inability to understand all
languages. Only God understands every language and that is why he is God. Even
if we try to learn all languages, we still cannot challenge God. My image in a
mirror cannot challenge me; all I need to do is to walk away and it simply
vanishes. (laughs).
However,
over the course of history, we have come to see that deep within the human
spirit is a constant temptation, to rise above the limitations of life – a
temptation to be overthrow God. Remember, Adam and Eve fell because of this. The
tower of Babel is another example. As much as God is not against the use of our
talents and abilities, we must be conscious of this temptation and learn how to
humble ourselves before him. The Psalmist says: “The fool says in his heart, ‘there is no God.’”
Ps.14:1. Anytime we set out to prove that God does not exist, God comes to
shame us. Any task, any achievement, any discovery, any invention that gives us
course for pride or makes us insult God, God will surely bring us down to
nothing. No one can challenge God. I once heard that the man who built the
Titanic boasted saying: “nothing can sink it, not even God.” We know how that
ship ended!
Why do we even try to challenge God? Why do we attempt to live as though
we don’t need God? It is all foolishness as the Psalmist says. Even Jesus in
today’s Gospel passage asks: “what shall it profit a man, to gain the whole
world and forfeit his life?” In other words, even if we succeed in building a
bigger Titanic, even if we build a sky scrapper taller than all other sky scrapers
combined, we still cannot build heaven! No matter the height of medical
knowledge we have attained in the advancement of the sciences, we cannot live
forever!
“For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and
sinful generation, of him will the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the
glory of the Father.” Let not our so called knowledge make us ashamed of Jesus.
No matter what we do, no matter how good we are, no matter what height of
success we attain, we must never forget we are dust! So when we go so high up
in terms of achievement, let us use it as an opportunity to Praise, Adore and
Worship Jesus. Let our achievements become the platform for evangelization to
let people know there is God. Let not our achievement become occasions to be
ashamed of God or talk as if we did it on our own otherwise God will send us
the punishment of Babel.
Let us
Pray: Lord Jesus, help me realize I am nothing because you alone are something.
Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Genesis
11:1-9 and Mark 8:34-9:1).
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