Daily Readings - Wed May 09 2018
Acts
15Then those who were leading Paul brought him as far as Athens. And having received an order from him to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him quickly, they set out16Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred up within him, seeing the city given over to idolatry17And so, he was disputing with the Jews in the synagogue, and with the worshipers, and in public places, throughout each day, with whomever was there18Now certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were arguing with him. And some were saying, "What does this sower of the Word want to say?" Yet others were saying, "He seems to be an announcer for new demons." For he was announcing to them Jesus and the Resurrection19And apprehending him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: "Are we able to know what this new doctrine is, about which you speak20For you bring certain new ideas to our ears. And so we would like to know what these things mean.21(Now all the Athenians, and arriving visitors, were occupying themselves with nothing other than speaking or hearing various new ideas.22But Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are rather superstitious23For as I was passing by and noticing your idols, I also found an altar, on which was written: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this is what I am preaching to you24the God who made the world and all that is in it, the One who is the Lord of heaven and earth, who does not live in temples made with hands25Neither is he served by the hands of men, as if in need of anything, since it is he who gives to all things life and breath and all else26And he has made, out of one, every family of man: to live upon the face of the entire earth, determining the appointed seasons and the limits of their habitation27so as to seek God, if perhaps they may consider him or find him, though he is not far from each one of us28‘For in him we live, and move, and exist.’ Just as some of your own poets have said. ‘For we are also of his family.29Therefore, since we are of the family of God, we must not consider gold or silver or precious stones, or the engravings of art and of the imagination of man, to be a representation of what is Divine30And indeed, God, having looked down to see the ignorance of these times, has now announced to men that everyone everywhere should do penance31For he has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in equity, through the man whom he has appointed, offering faith to all, by raising him from the dead.32And when they had heard about the Resurrection of the dead, indeed, some were derisive, while others said, "We will listen to you about this again.33So Paul departed from their midst34Yet truly, certain men, adhering to him, did believe. Among these were also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them
1After these things, having departed from Athens, he arrived at Corinth
John
12I still have many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them now13But when the Spirit of truth has arrived, he will teach the whole truth to you. For he will not be speaking from himself. Instead, whatever he will hear, he will speak. And he will announce to you the things that are to come14He shall glorify me. For he will receive from what is mine, and he will announce it to you15All things whatsoever that the Father has are mine. For this reason, I said that he will receive from what is mine and that he will announce it to you
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of divine guidance and truth. In Acts, Paul stands in the heart of Athens, surrounded by idols, and seizes the opportunity to preach about Jesus and the Resurrection. The Athenians, curious yet skeptical, listen as Paul cleverly connects their altar to the unknown god to the Christian message, showcasing his adaptability in spreading the Gospel.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who will guide the disciples into all truth. The Spirit will take what is Jesus' and declare it to them, emphasizing divine guidance and the revelation of truth. This passage highlights the Spirit’s role in illuminating our path and deepening our understanding of God’s will.
These readings are deeply connected. Paul’s missionary work in Athens is an example of being led by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the truth effectively. The Spirit guided Paul to navigate a foreign culture and present the Gospel in a relatable way. Similarly, in John’s Gospel, the Holy Spirit is our guide, helping us understand and live out the truth of God’s love.
In our daily lives, we are called to be open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Just as Paul was led to preach in Athens, we can be guided in our interactions to share our faith and values authentically. This requires trust and openness, allowing the Spirit to lead us in navigating our world, which can sometimes feel as unfamiliar as Athens did to Paul.
The moral lesson here is about trust and openness. By trusting the Holy Spirit and being open to His guidance, we can live out our faith authentically. It’s about adaptability—presenting the Gospel in ways that resonate with others, just as Paul did. Let us embrace the Spirit’s guidance, allowing it to illuminate our path and inspire us to share the truth of God’s love in all we do.