No Nimrod Here

Genesis 11:1-9; Psalm 33 Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own; Mark 8:34-9:1

The tower of Bable makes its appearance in the readings.  We have been journeying along with the first 11 chapters of the book of Genesis, which is considered to be part of the pre-history. 

We encountered creation in 7 days, we encountered the making of man and women in God's image, we have encountered the Garden of Eden and the fall, we have encountered Cain slaying Abel, we have encountered Noah and the Ark and the flood, we have encountered the Rainbow as a sign of covenant, and today we see the tower of Babel rise high into the sky. 

It is important to note that the King in charge of organizing the construction of the tower was named Nimrod.  Hence, the association of the meaning with the name.  Probably not a good idea to go along with anyone named Nimrod.  

His name actually means, "the one who rebels."

Nimrod convinces the people to make a name for themselves.  This is the great sin: men seeking a name for themselves rather than invoking the name of God. 

It was the sin of Adam and Eve.  They were tempted to eat so that they could be like gods.  It was the sin of Cain over Abel.  It was present with the destruction of the flood.  It was present with the shame of Noah and his sons.  It pops up again in the tower of Babel. 

As you go through the biblical record, somewhere in every downfall we discover men seeking to make a name for themselves and no longer invoking the name of God. 

If we look into our present economic woes, we discover the same reality.  Why are we in a recession?  In a large part because men have been seeking to make a name for themselves and for their constituents and have ceased invoking the name of God.  

As a result, like in the tower of Babel, people no longer are able to communicate.  They no longer are speaking the same language because they are to busy caught up in themselves.

What is the answer to this Babel?

The answer is found in Acts ch. 2.  The Pentecost experience is the answer to Babel.  The power of the Spirit unites where pride scatters.  At the pentecost experience, the birth of the Church, Peter stands and proclaims the gospel message, the truth of things.  All are able to hear him in their own tongue. 

What is the central message of this experience: Jesus Christ was hung on tree, put to death, and rose again.  The paschal mystery is the bridge that unites.  The verdict of true love overwhelms and unites and draws all together as one. 

When we invoke his name, as St. Paul tells us, the name by which every knee shall bend and every tongue profess, then truly we begin to realize the beauty of our name, one that is not made but received, "Christian."

Here we begin to build a civilization that can truly be united.  This is why the Church is one, holy, catholic, apostolic: universal sign of the oneness God invites all to participate in fully through Jesus the one who refuses to rebel, the one who refuses to take matters into his own hands.

There is no Nimrod here!  Jesus does not make a name for himself, rather he surrenders so that God's name might be known, "I have made known to them your name, and I will make it known."(Jn 17:26)  

May we invoke His name and then live what we invoke and build our lives on that bridge that unites.