After the deluge, God renews a covenant with creation, and the descendants of Noah begin to fulfill God’s command “to increase and multiply and fill the earth.”
But then something else happens: human beings want to be together, so they build a city. A common origin and language draws them together, not just as families or clans, but in a larger society. They look for human flourishing in a city. (Genesis 11,1-9)
Unfortunately, they overreach. They want to get their heads into the heavens and so they plan a tower into the sky. Like Adam and Eve reaching for the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they want to be like gods, “presuming to do whatever they want,” Their tower becomes a Tower of Babel. It collapses and they’re scattered over the world, leaving their city unfinished.
It’s important to recognize that the Genesis story does not claim God’s against human beings building a city. The bible, in fact, often sees the city as a place favoring human flourishing. In the Book of Jonah, God values the great city of Nineveh. Jesus sees Jerusalem, the Holy City, cherished by the Lord, the place where he dwells. The Spirit descends on his church in the city. The Genesis story sees the city as good, but it can be destroyed by sin and human pride..
The picture at the beginning of this blog is a painting of the Tower of Babel by the 16th century Dutch artist, Pieter Bruegel the Elder. It’s situates Babel in Antwerp, one of the key seaports of the time. Its shaky structure suggests it’s too ambitiously built. Still incomplete, it may not last. So the painter offers a warning against ambition and not caring for people, especially the needy.
It’s interesting to note that Pope Francis encourages mayors from cities to plan well. Commentators say the pope, conscious of a rising isolationism that’s affecting nations and international bodies today, sees cities to be agents for unifying peoples. They’re important places for humans to flourish. The United Nations also sees cities as key resources in the challenge that comes with climate change.
The picture at the end? You don’t have to be told. A great city. Still, its greatness will be judged, not by its big buildings or businesses, but how it encourages human flourishing.
The Victor's Place 
Father Victor, thanks for the reminder that the City is like the human heart, fertile for both good & evil. May we all nurture the good, seek peace (i.e. right relationships), in the created world, in our neighbor and with our God.
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Cities like NYC have certainly nurtured the human beings’ basic needs by improving the human condition and thus the human spirit. NYC was and will remain the greatest example of a haven or rather home to the immigrant. The vastness and diversity of its population provides economic opportunity and thus economic improvement to all. My grandfather for example an Italian immigrant with a skill to make and repair shoes was able to set up shop on one of the busiest crossroads of the city, West 42 St. On this urban thoroughfare, his neighboring businesses included a hairdressers shop owned and operated by a womam, daughter of Polish immigrants. The German Jewish, Holocaust survivor, Leon owned and operated the Soda/candy shop where kids were able to buy eggcreams, penny candies and the latest edition of the Daily News for 8 cents. The NY deli owner was the son of holocaust survivors. Mike and his son operated the flourishing business that fed NY’s lumber company workers, longshoremen from the docks, bus drivers from the Port Authority. There was a Greek baker, French patisserie, German brewery, the Spanish snow cone wagons, and not to be forgotten our Irish nuns and priests. We lived in harmony with other species that inhabited the city; pigeons that cooed on the windowsill, stray cats that eerily cried and hissed in the alley at night and the dog that howled along with a passing ambulance siren. We lived, survived, prospered, for the most part, in peace. True every city had its criminal element and its law enforcers. It was a balanced city. We lived in the shadows of large financial institutions and hospitals, courts, tenement apartments and Park avenue townhouses, schools, libraries, museums, theaters. Yet more importantly, NYC had many diverse houses of worship which were filled to the rafters with worshippers. As worshippers have dwindled either through relocation or just lack of faith, we see unfortunately many Catholic Churches closing in NYC. This alters the city skyline, the neighborhood landscape in ways that hurt and challenge not only the faithful but those in need of social services provided by a church such as a Franciscan soup kitchen or a gym for kids to play basketball . There is an ATM, VERIZON store and coffee shop on every corner in NYC. At one time that could be said of the churches! The demolishing and collapsing of multiple parishes into one can not be good for the human condition or human spirit. For it is our churches that help us build a city of love!
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Beautiful comment. You name the strength of the city. And I agree it’s weakened with a decline of places of worship. Thanks. Fr.Victor
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Thanks Natalie, for the description of New York’s original melting pot. People of different ethnic backgrounds made an effort to live respectfully of others. Now some are too hasty to throw harsh words, or draw a gun or wield a knife to settle differences. Father Victor, that’s a beautiful photo of the skyline from the ferry. Thank you for taking time to shoot that scene.
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Has the Big Apple retained its reputation?
A place for diversity, energy and success?
When I sought a publishing job.
I searched the long list of established publishers.
Had interviews.
Hearst offered me entry level position.
Editorial assistant was my role.
Is that industry thriving there now?
Many enterprises have relocated,
Reducing overhead, increased remote jobs,
Putting warehouses in lower tax areas.
Watching the video of city “Live Walk”
Reveals numerous shuttered stores,
Multiple For sale or For rent signs.
Will the big Apple ripen again into desired destination?
Will the original melting pot be revived?
I envision the city orchard,
rooted in respect, acceptance of variety,
A place for peaceful living by the rule of love.
I pray that will become reality.
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