Daily Readings - Wed May 20 2020
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 profound moments in the spread of God's message. In Acts 17, Paul stands in the heart of Athens, surrounded by idolatry and philosophical debate. He seizes the opportunity to speak of the unknown God, the creator who needs no temple and is closer than we realize. This encounter highlights Paul's courage in sharing the Gospel with a pagan audience, using their own cultural references to connect them to the divine.
In John 16, Jesus speaks to his disciples about the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who will guide them into all truth. This Spirit will reveal what is yet to come and glorify Jesus by sharing what belongs to him. This passage underscores the Holy Spirit's role in continuing Jesus' work, ensuring his followers are not left as orphans but empowered with truth.
These readings intertwine through the theme of truth and the Holy Spirit. Paul, guided by the Spirit, adapts his message to engage his audience, while Jesus promises the Spirit will lead his disciples into deeper understanding. Both moments emphasize the Spirit's role in revealing God's truth and empowering believers to share it.
In our daily lives, we are called to be open to the Holy Spirit's guidance, just as Paul was. Whether in conversations or challenges, the Spirit equips us to share the Gospel creatively and courageously. We must remain attentive to the Spirit's whispers, allowing it to transform us and use us as instruments of truth in a world that often seeks meaning in the wrong places.
As we reflect, let us remember that the Holy Spirit is our advocate, illuminating our path and empowering our witness. Like Paul, we are called to step into unfamiliar territories, trusting the Spirit's prompting. May we embrace this call with faith, knowing that the Spirit will provide the words and wisdom we need. In doing so, we become part of the ongoing story of God's revelation, bringing light and truth to a world in need.