A Clashing Cymbal

Learning to love in multiple languages

05/19/2024

Acts 2:1-11 When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?

Sometimes people ask me, “Fr. John, how many languages can you speak?” I tell them that I can speak English, Spanish, and Malayalam, but I can only read Latin and French. Would you like to hear these four foreign languages, since after all, it is Pentecost, and the apostles spoke multiple languages as we heard in the first reading from Acts 2? I will say the Hail Mary (which you know well) in each language. See if you can catch any words!

First, Malayalam, my native tongue: “Nanma Niranja Mariyamme, Swasthi. Karthaavu Angayodu koode, Sthreekalil Angu Anugrahikka pettaval aakunu. Angayude Udharathin Bhalamaaya Eesho Anugrahakkipettavan aakunu. Parishudha Mariyame, Thamburante Amme, Papikalaaya Njangalkku Vendi, Epozhum Njangalude Marana Samayathum Thamburanodu Apeshikaname. Amen.” Second, Spanish: Dios te salve, María, Llena eres de gracia, el Señor es contigo. Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres, y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros, pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amen”.

Third, French: Je vous salue, Marie pleine de grâce; le Seigneur est avec vous. Vous êtes bénie entre toutes les femmes et Jésus, le fruit de vos entrailles, est béni. Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pauvres pécheurs, maintenant et à l’heure de notre mort. Amen. Fourth, Latin: Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.”

Are you impressed by that display of linguistic skills? Well, don’t be! Why not? Well, because St. Paul warns us in 1 Co 13:1, “If I speak in tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clashing cymbal.” In other words, on Judgment Day, God will not ask me if I can speak Latin, French or Malayalam fluently. Speaking several languages may get you into Harvard, but it won’t get you into heaven.

Rather, God will ask me if I have mastered speaking the language of love. Why? Well, because love is the language of heaven. And just like we Americans get upset when foreigners enter this country and cannot speak English well, so the saints and angels will have little tolerance for us if we are not fluent in love. In other words, the tables will be turned and we will be the immigrants knocking on the doors of Paradise. We better start practicing the language of Paradise today.

And by the way, how do you know if you are becoming fluent in this heavenly tongue? I remember studying Spanish in Mexico and we students often discussed when someone becomes fluent in a language. One person said when you dream in that language. Another insisted it’s when you can understand poetry or music in that language. Yet another said sarcastically: it’s when you stop asking if you’re fluent because you know you are. If you’re still asking, it is because you’re not fluent yet.

In the gospel, Jesus teaches that fluency really comes with forgiveness. And so he gives his apostles the Holy Spirit to give them a crash course in forgiveness and become fluent in love. The Holy Spirit didn’t just give the apostles the ability to speak a lot of languages. He taught them the most important language of all, namely, love, the language of heaven. In other words, we have only mastered the language of love, when we can truly forgive our neighbor – and maybe also forgive ourselves – from the heart. If you cannot forgive someone – a spouse, a sibling, and neighbor, a co-worker – you are not yet fluent in love.

We have a columbarium here at Immaculate Conception, and sometimes when people come in to buy a niche for themselves, they sort of ask on the sly: “Who is in the niche next to me?” And if it is someone they do not get along with or particularly like they say: “Well, forget it! I don’t want to spend eternity next to that person!” And I say to them: “Well, guess what? That is exactly the person you will be next to in Purgatory. That is the point of Purgatory: to love, forgive, and cherish the unlovable and love them like your own children, or better, like your grandchildren.

No one can get into heaven holding a grudge or lack of forgiveness toward another human being. Think of all the people you don’t like or love. You don’t have to be next to them in the IC columbarium, but you will be next to them in Purgatory. That purification is a kind of “immersion program” to learn the language of love. Just like I went to Cuernevaca, Mexico to learn Spanish, so we will all go to purgatory to learn to speak love. And we will have to practice speaking with those whom we love the least.

My friends, the best reason to learn other languages is to be able to say “I love you” in a way that more people can understand you. For example, to tell Hispanics: “Yo te quiero!”, to tell the French: “Je t’aime!”, to tell the Malayalalees: “Njaan ninne snehikkunnu!”, to tell the old Romans: “Ego te amo!” The more people you can say “I love you” to, the more ready you are for heaven. Otherwise, you are just a clashing cymbal.

Praised be Jesus Christ!