It is a coincidence, or we would say a providence, that the two readings assigned for today serve as commentary for one another. In Ordinary Time the readings are done chapter by chapter, during these weeks from Gensis and the Gospel of Mark, so their relevance to one another is happenstance. In the Old Testament the people of Babel want to build a city and a tower “so make a name for ourselves.” In the Gospel Jesus says, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself.” The Biblical lesson is that any attempt to make something of ourselves is illusory since, in fact, everything is a gift. That we could put two feet on the floor is not something we have accomplished but something given to us. Life itself is a blessing bestowed upon us by God. The call of the spiritual life is to get over our attempts to do for ourselves and instead learn to run with the gifts God showers upon us.
