Godlessness and Gain

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to assess the impact of self serving action on our invitation to full life as followers of Jesus.

Cross and Commerce

The reading from the Book of Genesis describes The Tower of Babel.

* [11:1–9] This story illustrates increasing human wickedness, shown here in the sinful pride that human beings take in their own achievements apart from God. Secondarily, the story explains the diversity of languages among the peoples of the earth.

* [11:2] Shinar: see note on 10:10.

* [11:4] Tower with its top in the sky: possibly a reference to the chief ziggurat of Babylon, E-sag-ila, lit., “the house that raises high its head.”

* [11:9] Babel: the Hebrew form of the name “Babylon”; the Babylonians interpreted their name for the city, Bab-ili, as “gate of god.” The Hebrew word balal, “he confused,” has a similar sound. (Genesis, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 33 praises the Greatness and Goodness of God.

* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus proclaims that the conditions of discipleship include that we take up the Cross.

* [8:34–35] This utterance of Jesus challenges all believers to authentic discipleship and total commitment to himself through self-renunciation and acceptance of the cross of suffering, even to the sacrifice of life itself. Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it…will save it: an expression of the ambivalence of life and its contrasting destiny. Life seen as mere self-centered earthly existence and lived in denial of Christ ends in destruction, but when lived in loyalty to Christ, despite earthly death, it arrives at fullness of life.

* [8:35] For my sake and that of the gospel: Mark here, as at Mk 10:29 equates Jesus with the gospel. (Mark, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

* [9:1] There are some standing…come in power: understood by some to refer to the establishment by God’s power of his kingdom on earth in and through the church; more likely, as understood by others, a reference to the imminent parousia. (Mark, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)

Tom Lenz comments about consciously trying to shift the focus away to capture the larger reality of life where he is not the center of everything.

Maybe if I can resist the temptation to put myself at the center of everything and to not take myself quite so seriously and at the same time use my gifts and talents to be the person that I’m meant to be, I can then move closer to “The Kingdom of God” as Jesus says. For me, in 2025, this likely means that I don’t take the outcome of the Super Bowl quite so seriously (because it is not a reflection about me personally), do not get so upset about the latest political headline (because it is not purposely apposing my personal values), and not get so upset when I do not know all the information about a question at work (because it is not a reflection of who I am as a whole). If I can start to let go (i.e., lose) of these things that seem to be of great value in my life, then I can start to actually live life the way Jesus describes it – in the Kingdom of God. (And as a bonus, I can probably still enjoy my nightly bowl of ice cream.) (Lenz, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes  “Would you follow Christ?”, by Caesarius of Arles, 470-542 A.D.

"When the Lord tells us in the Gospel that anyone who wants to be his follower must renounce himself, the injunction seems harsh; we think he is imposing a burden on us (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23). But an order is no burden when it is given by one who helps in carrying it out. To what place are we to follow Christ if not where he has already gone? We know that he has risen and ascended into heaven; there, then, we must follow him. There is no cause for despair - by ourselves we can do nothing, but we have Christ's promise...

"One who claims to abide in Christ ought to walk as he walked. Would you follow Christ? Then be humble as he was humble. Do not scorn his lowliness if you want to reach his exaltation. Human sin made the road rough. Christ's resurrection leveled it. By passing over it himself, he transformed the narrowest of tracks into a royal highway. Two feet are needed to run along this highway; they are humility and charity. Everyone wants to get to the top - well, the first step to take is humility. Why take strides that are too big for you - do you want to fall instead of going up? Begin with the first step, humility, and you will already be climbing." (excerpt from SERMONS 159, 1.4-6) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis: 11:1-9 comments that it is tempting to get caught up in building our own personal “cities” and “towers,” too: a successful career, the best clothes, a new car, and so on. But all this is fleeting. Our true home is in heaven, and that’s where our primary focus needs to be. That’s how we please the Lord and build a life that has lasting meaning and purpose.

Today’s Gospel presents another kind of city: “the Kingdom of God” (Mark 9:1). That kingdom was inaugurated by Jesus as he hung, helpless, on a cross. It is founded on the witness of lowly tradesmen-turned-apostles. Even to this day, it is built through humility and self-giving love, not by constructing towers of pride and self-preservation. It grows stronger as we deny ourselves and take up the cross, not as we build ourselves up at the expense of the lost and the needy. That’s because only love and mercy, not power and domination, will last.

“Jesus, help me to work with you in building the kingdom of heaven.” (Meditation on Genesis: 11:1-9, 2025)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the motivation to be like God in the people of Babel who built a tower like a Bablonian ziggurat so high as to reach the heavens. The cure of language that was used to divide us occurs on Pentecost. Friar Jude reflects on Jesus' comment on His Resurrection or on the end time.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, considers the transformative impact of people who live within the cosmic egg. The person who lives within the total cosmic egg is the mystic, the prophet, the universal human, the saint, the whole one. These are people like Mahatma Gandhi, St. Bonaventure, Martin Luther King Jr., St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. John Henry Newman, Dag Hammarskjöld, and Julian of Norwich (my favorite mystic). These are the people who look out—with eyes wide as saucers—at the smaller pictures because they observe from the utterly big picture.

Great “seers” operate beyond mere group loyalties; beyond any simple, dualistic thinking that always puts them on the “right” side; beyond winners and losers, good and bad. They are somehow able to live by universal principles while still caring for the specific; honoring cultural norms, yet making room for the exceptions. They have seen in a contemplative way, beyond the shadow and the disguise, beyond the suffocating skin of the private self and the self-serving egotisms of group. The contemplative mind integrates and gives focus to all our calculating and controlling. Without it, there is only civil and self-serving religion. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the help of the Spirit to resolve the tension between the self-serving aspects of our actions and our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader.

References

Genesis, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/11?1 

Lenz, T. (2025, February 21). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/022125.html 

Mark, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/8

Mark, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/9 

Meditation on Genesis: 11:1-9. (2025, February 21). The Word Among Us. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/02/21/1207604/ 

Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?10 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Transcending a Single Story. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/transcending-a-single-story/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=feb21 

Spirit for the Common Good

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Feast of Pentecost, assert the power of the Holy Spirit to activate our gifts for community and care of others.

Spirit and Community

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles, proclaims the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

* [2:1–41] Luke’s pentecostal narrative consists of an introduction (Acts 2:1–13), a speech ascribed to Peter declaring the resurrection of Jesus and its messianic significance (Acts 2:14–36), and a favorable response from the audience (Acts 2:37–41). It is likely that the narrative telescopes events that took place over a period of time and on a less dramatic scale. The Twelve were not originally in a position to proclaim publicly the messianic office of Jesus without incurring immediate reprisal from those religious authorities in Jerusalem who had brought about Jesus’ death precisely to stem the rising tide in his favor.

* [2:2] There came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind: wind and spirit are associated in Jn 3:8. The sound of a great rush of wind would herald a new action of God in the history of salvation.

* [2:3] Tongues as of fire: see Ex 19:18 where fire symbolizes the presence of God to initiate the covenant on Sinai. Here the holy Spirit acts upon the apostles, preparing them to proclaim the new covenant with its unique gift of the Spirit (Acts 2:38).

* [2:4] To speak in different tongues: ecstatic prayer in praise of God, interpreted in Acts 2:6, 11 as speaking in foreign languages, symbolizing the worldwide mission of the church. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)

Psalm 104 praises God the Creator and Provider.

* [104:29–30] On one level, the spirit (or wind) of God is the fall and winter rains that provide food for all creatures. On another, it is the breath (or spirit) of God that makes beings live. (Psalms, PSALM 104, n.d.)

The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians describes the Spirit for One Body with many members.

* [12:12–26] The image of a body is introduced to explain Christ’s relationship with believers (1 Cor 12:12). 1 Cor 12:13 applies this model to the church: by baptism all, despite diversity of ethnic or social origins, are integrated into one organism. 1 Cor 12:14–26 then develop the need for diversity of function among the parts of a body without threat to its unity. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 12, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus Appears to the Disciples.

* [20:19–29] The appearances to the disciples, without or with Thomas (cf. Jn 11:16; 14:5), have rough parallels in the other gospels only for Jn 20:19–23; cf. Lk 24:36–39; Mk 16:14–18.

* [20:19] The disciples: by implication from Jn 20:24 this means ten of the Twelve, presumably in Jerusalem. Peace be with you: although this could be an ordinary greeting, John intends here to echo Jn 14:27. The theme of rejoicing in Jn 20:20 echoes Jn 16:22. (John, CHAPTER 20, n.d.)

Cindy Costanzo comments that Pentecost was a new beginning for the church and each year it is representative of a new beginning for each of us. It is a wonderful time to remember and reflect on the gifts of the Holy Spirit: fortitude, piety, fear of God, counsel, understanding, wisdom, and knowledge.

I try to imagine that day…what a wonderous and glorious sight to visualize the descent of the Holy Spirit. I think of the Holy Spirit as a beautiful gift. A gift that was given to the Apostles but to each of us. If I believe in the Trinity - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and I declare myself a child of God, a Christian, a believer, someone who is  ‘all in’ my heart, mind, soul, and spirit…is not the Holy Spirit within me and all around me? Can I sit quietly, in silence, breathing in and out, listening, praying, feeling the earth supporting my body, the breeze gently blowing my hair, the birds singing, cottonwood trees rustling and feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. Yes, I believe so. Amen. (Costanzo, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “The Holy Spirit at Pentecost,” by Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.

"To the Hebrew people, now freed from Egypt, the law was given on Mount Sinai fifty days after the immolation of the paschal lamb. Similarly, after the passion of Christ in which the true Lamb of God was killed, just fifty days after his resurrection, the Holy Spirit fell upon the apostles and the whole group of believers. Thus the earnest Christian may easily perceive that the beginnings of the Old Covenant were at the service of the beginnings of the gospel and that the same Spirit who instituted the first established the Second Covenant." (excerpt from Sermon 75.1) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 2:1-11 comments that the Holy Spirit still wants to dismantle walls between people from all walks of life and bring them together. And by virtue of our baptism, we are called to participate in that mission.

How? You can start right where you live. You’re sure to encounter someone who might not “speak your language.” Maybe someone in your family or among your neighbors has a different worldview than you do. Maybe there are people who come from a different country or from a different generation. Bring Jesus to them. Just say a prayer, open your mouth, and trust the Spirit to work through you to bring them together.

The Holy Spirit is still eager to bring us all together in Christ. Let him fill you on this special day!

“Holy Spirit, give me the words to proclaim the good news wherever I go.” (Meditation on Acts 2:1-11, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments ( after reflecting on the Vigil texts) that in reversing the separation of the Tower of Babel we understand that language should unite us. The Greek understanding that Paul confronts is that Spirit is good and physical, Human Jesus, is not good, as builds on Stoic understanding of community. Friar Jude suggests that Yes is the answer to the differences in Luke, a historian, and John, a mystic, about the Holy Spirit being received by the apostles.

James Hanvey SJ, Secretary for the Service of the Faith for the Society of Jesus, draws our attention to the work of the Spirit to bring us into communion with one another, a communion in which we see Christ in every hopeful or sorrowful face.

I believe that the gospel opens up paths of encounter with our world, especially those who are lost, abandoned, and forgotten. Those, too, who may not acknowledge any faith but long for a better world, a more compassionate and just community, a new way of sharing life with the whole of God’s good creation, still becoming and evolving.

Whenever we hear the words of Christ and attend with an open heart, we see ourselves and those around us in a new light. We see that the beatitudes are not just something for the future, but even now they are among us. The corporate and spiritual works of mercy are already our solidarity and communion in action. They are the paths on which the Spirit is leading us to encounter the face of Christ in each other. (Hanvey, 2020)

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, reminds us that the Holy Spirit is as near to us as our own breath. 

In teaching on the Holy Spirit, what we need to do is “mind the gap”—because the Holy Spirit fills the gaps of everything. First, we need to be aware that there usually is a gap. There’s a space because we don’t recognize that God is as available to us as our breath. We always allow God, by our own silliness and stupidity, to be distant, to be elsewhere. We always find a gap between ourselves and our neighbor, between ourselves and almost everything. We therefore feel quite lonely and isolated in this world. Without some awareness of the Holy Spirit’s presence, frankly, we’re not connected to anything or anybody. We just live an isolated life.   

The Holy Spirit within us is the desire inside all of us that wants to keep connecting, relating, and communing. It isn’t above us. It isn’t beyond us—it is within us. It’s as available as our breath, and that’s why the Risen Christ gives the Holy Spirit by breathing upon the disciples. He’s saying, in effect, “Here it is! Here it is! Can you breathe in what I have breathed out?” (Rohr, 2023)

We invoke the Holy Spirit to be created and renew the face of the earth as we connect to Jesus and our brothers and sisters.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/2?1 

Costanzo, C. (2023, May 28). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/052823.html 

Hanvey, J. (2020, May 28). In times of darkness. Thinking Faith. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/times-darkness 

John, CHAPTER 20. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/20?19 

Meditation on Acts 2:1-11. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/05/28/691462/ 

1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 12. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/12?3 

Psalms, PSALM 104. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/104?1 

Rohr, R. (2023, May 28). As Close as Our Breath — Center for Action and Contemplation. Cac.org. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/as-close-as-our-breath-2023-05-28/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). They Were All Filled with the Holy Spirit! Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=may28