Daily Readings - Wed May 29 2019
Acts
15And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.16Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.17Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.18Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.19And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?20For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.21For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)22Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.23For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.29Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.32And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.33So Paul departed from among them.34Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
1After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
John
12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of divine guidance and proclamation. In Acts, Paul finds himself in Athens, a city steeped in idolatry and philosophical inquiry. He seizes the opportunity to preach about the unknown God, cleverly connecting their idolatrous practices to the one true God. Paul’s message is clear: the God who created all things is near, and He calls all people to repentance. This sets the stage for the Gospel, where Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who will guide the disciples into all truth. Jesus assures them that the Spirit will take what is His and declare it to them, glorifying Jesus because everything the Father has belongs to Him.
The context of these readings is pivotal. Athens, a hub of intellectual and philosophical activity, represents a world seeking meaning amidst idolatry. Paul’s approach is to bridge their beliefs with the Gospel, using the altar to the unknown God as a starting point. In John, Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure, promising the Holy Spirit as their guide. This promise is not just for the disciples but extends to all believers, offering comfort and assurance in times of uncertainty.
Both readings highlight the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding us to truth and enabling us to proclaim the Gospel. Just as Paul was guided by the Spirit in Athens, and the disciples were promised the Spirit’s guidance, we too can rely on the Spirit in our daily lives. This calls us to trust in the Spirit’s leading as we share the Gospel in our own contexts, whether in our communities, workplaces, or homes. The moral lesson here is clear: the Holy Spirit is our guide and strength, empowering us to fulfill our mission to share the truth of God’s love with the world. Let us embrace this truth, trusting in the Spirit’s guidance as we navigate our own journeys of faith.