Thursday in Epiphany 2: The seedbed of all evils

Opening Sentence

Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:3

Commemoration: Wulfstan

Lord God, who raised up Wulfstan to be a bishop among your people and a leader of your Church: help us, after his example, to live simply, to work diligently, and to make your kingdom known; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Psalter: Psalm 37:1-18

Lessons: Genesis 11:1-9, Hebrews 6:13-20, John 4:1-15

Moses states that upon this sin [of building the tower] there followed a punishment, namely, the division of languages. This may appear to have been a light punishment, but surely it is a terrible one if you take into consideration the extreme hardships that resulted from this division of languages. For one thing, identity of language is a very strong bond in human association and harmony among men. In this instance, too, the statement of the proverb is true: "Birds of a feather flock together." A German likes to converse and associate with a person of his own nationality. But where the languages differ, there not only no commerce develops, but hatred arises in the heart against that nation whose language you do not understand. Thus a Frenchman hates and despises the Germans: the Italians hate and despise all nations except themselves.

Thus it is clear as a result of this division of languages hearts were disunited, customs changed, and dispositions and endeavors altered. Consequently, you can truthfully call it the seedbed of all evils, since it has caused political as well as economic confusion.

Although these are very serious inconveniences, they are nothing in comparison with the confusion that this division of languages has brought to the churches and the endless occasions it has provided for idolatry and superstition. Who does not realize that the function of the ministry was almost entirely disrupted by this change of languages? Eber, who undoubtedly retained the first and true language, was unable thereafter to instruct others whose language he did not know and who could not understand him.

Therefore it is a great blessing and an outstanding miracle of the New Testament that by means of various languages the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost brought men of all nations into the one body of the one Head, Christ (Acts 2). Christ joins and unites all into one faith through the Gospel, even though the different languages remain; and He tears down the wall (Eph. 2:14), not only by reconciling us to God through His death and speaking to us in a new language but also by bringing about outward harmony, so that different flocks are brought together under one Shepherd and are gathered into one fold (John 10:16). . . .

I myself do not understand an Italian, nor does an Italian understand me; and so there exists a natural opportunity for anger and enmity between us. But if we both understand Christ, we mutually embrace and heartily kiss each other as fellow members. But where Christ is not present, there the punishment of Babylon still prevails, the division of languages, which brings on a sure division of hearts and gives rise to confusion, not only in the administration of the home and government but also in religion and the church.

Martin Luther

Lectures on Genesis

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty