From Shinar to Jerusalem: Pentecost as Homecoming,…offers a theological reflection on the Feast of Pentecost. It begins by listing the Catholic Lectionary readings for Pentecost, which span from Genesis to 1 Corinthians, establishing the historical and biblical scope of the discussion. The author interprets Pentecost, or Shavuot, as a profound reversal of the scattering at Babel (Shinar) and a gathering of the estranged into the family of God, referencing the inclusion of outsiders like Ruth. The piece draws parallels between the fire and law given at Sinai and the fire and Spirit given in Jerusalem, noting that the 3,000 who died after Sinai were countered by the 3,000 saved at Pentecost. Ultimately, the text defines the Holy Spirit’s descent as a new creation, uniting disparate peoples—including ancient groups like the Parthians, Medes, and Elamites—into the Body of Christ, culminating in a joyful, spiritual homecoming.
