Daily Readings - Wed May 25 2022
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 proclamation and truth. In the first reading from Acts, Paul stands in the heart of Athens, surrounded by idolatry and philosophical debate. He seizes the opportunity to preach Jesus and the Resurrection, using the altar to the “unknown God” as a bridge to connect with his audience. This moment captures Paul’s boldness and creativity in sharing the Gospel, even in a place steeped in paganism. He does not shy away from the unfamiliar but instead uses it as a starting point to reveal the one true God. The Gospel reading from John complements this with Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who will guide us into all truth. Jesus assures us that the Spirit will not speak on his own but will reveal what he hears from the Father, glorifying Christ and making his teachings known to us.
These readings are deeply connected. Paul’s missionary work in Athens is an example of the Holy Spirit at work, guiding him to preach the truth in a way that resonates with his audience. Just as the Spirit of truth leads Paul to adapt his message without compromising its core, so too does the Spirit guide us today. The unknown God of Athens becomes the known God of revelation, and we are reminded that the Gospel is not confined to a particular culture or time but is universal. The Spirit’s role is to make the truth accessible, even in the most challenging environments.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we share the truth of the Gospel. Like Paul, we are called to be bold and creative in our witness, trusting the Holy Spirit to guide us. The Spirit of truth is not just a comfort but also a catalyst for mission. We are reminded that the Gospel is not something we keep to ourselves but something we are compelled to share, even when it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with courage and wisdom, that we might proclaim the truth with love and clarity, just as Paul did in Athens.