Daily Readings - Wed May 20 2020
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 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.