Though many languages, one voice

Sisters and brothers in Christ, I think at some point in our lives we were either separated from our siblings or friends because of ruckus behavior or, as adults, we had to separate kids because of behavior. In today's first reading, from the Book of Genesis, on the tower of Babel, we read that God has to separate the people because they are getting to full of themselves to the point of trying to make themselves into God - Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name for ourselves. . .

God will do what He can to help us overcome our sin of pride if we are willing to humble ourselves and turn to Him in faith. This is what it means when Jesus tells us, in today's Gospel, that if we want "to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it." Then, Christ adds this question of us: "What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" Would we rather humble ourselves in this life for eternal life in heaven than forfeit eternal life for worldly desires?

More over, going back to today's first reading, which is the account of the tower of Babel. God comes "down and there confuse their language" because the people's pride leads them to want to become like God. Yet, God reunite us all in His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and his bride, the Catholic Church, in the one language of faith. Through the centuries, in so many languages, cultures, peoples, and nations, the Church has constantly confessed this one faith. . . For though languages differ throughout the world, the content of the Tradition is one and the same.

One of the things that my wife and I always so when we visit a new city (for vacation) is, we look for the nearest Catholic Church to attend Mass. It is amazing how the Mass is universal, just as the Catholic Church is universal, no matter where we attend Mass. It is the same Mass across languages as well, because I have been to Mass in English, Vietnamese, and Spanish. How beautiful is that! So, while we do not speak the same language, we share the same Catholic faith and traditions. 

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Gospel of the Day

Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,

take up his cross, and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake

and that of the Gospel will save it.

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world

and forfeit his life?

What could one give in exchange for his life?

Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words

in this faithless and sinful generation,

the Son of Man will be ashamed of

when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

He also said to them,

"Amen, I say to you,

there are some standing here who will not taste death

until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power."