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Babel's Tower and the Lord

The Lord came down to see
the city and the tower,
which mortals had built.

The High Point Monument in New Jersey stands of 220 feet tall with exceptional views of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

At night floodlights engulf the monument as it points toward the heavens, giving it a hallowed appearance visible from up to 40 miles away.

It is extremely magnificent.

The monument calls to mind the primeval history of the Creator, the Tower of Babel, and human desire to be at one with God.

 As the story goes, the people decided to build a city with a tower reaching to the heavens, give themselves a name, therefore, not be scattered all over the earth.

This plan is doomed to failure since no one is able to get to heaven using their own power.

This, however wasn’t God’s purpose which was to be “fruitful and fill the earth.”

First, God’s purpose commands unity for humankind to be in covenant with him relying on him as a source of life.

Second, God’s purpose commands humankind be scattered in order to care for Creation and spread the Good News of God everywhere.

Since building a tower is not according to God’s plan, God comes down to see what’s going on.

This is the Good News of God.

God came down to see the tower.

In Christ, God came down.

At Jesus baptism, the Holy Spirit came down upon Jesus.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down.

At communion, God comes down.

God is a God who comes down lifting us up from whatever our suffering and ultimately takes us heavenward.


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