Why do the peoples of the earth misunderstand one another? Why do they fight? Genesis uses the story of the Tower of Babel to drive home a very important point. The problem is not building towers, it is arrogance. The people began to think of themselves as rivals of God, so God scattered and confused them. This is another way of saying that human pride and arrogance is the cause of human strife and confusion. But it doesn't have to be that way, and although learning other languages would be helpful, there is something even more important. Humility and love are the most eloquent and effective languages on earth, and they are easy to 'translate'. They will serve well in every human situation. We need not be separated either from God or from one another.

What are we afraid of losing, and what negative compromises are we willing to make in order to preserve it? Most people fear losing their lives or suffering pain, and tyrants use this fear to their advantage. We also fear losing our jobs, our reputations, or being disliked by other people. Jesus invites us to freedom: whatever we are afraid of losing, even our own lives, is nothing compared to what we will gain. If we love and serve and struggle for justice, we cannot lose a thing. But we have to let go - not cling - to what we have. How free do we want to be?