August 26, 2025

Paulina De la Fuente
“Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?'"
Acts 2:5-8
"'...both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.’ And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’”
Acts 2:11-12

This moment at Pentecost actually reverses an earlier moment in Scripture at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. In the Tower of Babel, when humanity is united in language and effort for their own glory, God confuses and disperses them. When people are united for God’s glory at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit uses their differences to unify and strengthen their faith and the church’s mission.

Isn’t it amazing that God takes what we want for our own glory and instead makes it for His? He takes what seems like would divide and hurt the mission, and makes it come together for His Kingdom purposes. In both our best and worst efforts, He lets us be part of His plans that are being unveiled to the world.

It’s a great mystery of God’s plan to involve us at all and then let us have a role to play in each other’s lives as He speaks through each of us. When we show up with our own agenda and expectations and aim to get the glory for ourselves, we miss out on the richness God has for life in community. When we get into community seeking to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and what He wants us to both hear and speak, we can be receptive and amazed by what God is doing in our midst. There’s no greater unity we can experience than seeking God’s glory in all that we do together.