Lectionary: 293
Reading 1
Acts 17:15, 22-18:1
After Paul’s escorts had taken him to Athens,
they came away with instructions for Silas and Timothy
to join him as soon as possible.
Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said:
“You Athenians, I see that in every respect
you are very religious.
For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines,
I even discovered an altar inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’
What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you.
The God who made the world and all that is in it,
the Lord of heaven and earth,
does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands,
nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything.
Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.
He made from one the whole human race
to dwell on the entire surface of the earth,
and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions,
so that people might seek God,
even perhaps grope for him and find him,
though indeed he is not far from any one of us.
For ‘In him we live and move and have our being,’
as even some of your poets have said,
‘For we too are his offspring.’
Since therefore we are the offspring of God,
we ought not to think that the divinity is like an image
fashioned from gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination.
God has overlooked the times of ignorance,
but now he demands that all people everywhere repent
because he has established a day on which he will ‘judge the world
with justice’ through a man he has appointed,
and he has provided confirmation for all
by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about resurrection of the dead,
some began to scoff, but others said,
“We should like to hear you on this some other time.”
And so Paul left them.
But some did join him, and became believers.
Among them were Dionysius,
a member of the Court of the Areopagus,
a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
After this he left Athens and went to Corinth.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all you his angels;
praise him, all you his hosts.
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,
the princes and all the judges of the earth,
Young men too, and maidens,
old men and boys.
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
His majesty is above earth and heaven.
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has lifted up the horn of his people;
Be this his praise from all his faithful ones,
from the children of Israel, the people close to him.
Alleluia.
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
John 16:12-15
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you.”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: TRYING, FAILING, AND LEARNING
"When they heard about the raising of the dead, some sneered, while others said, 'We must hear you on this topic some other time.' " –Acts 17:32
When Paul spoke of Jesus and the resurrection to the people of Athens, they called him a "magpie" (Acts 17:18), sneered at him, and brushed him off (Acts 17:32). However, a few became believers (Acts 17:34).
As we read through Acts of the Apostles this Easter season, many Christians can relate to Paul's difficulties at Athens better than to other parts of Acts. The "culture of death" in which we live is similar to that of Athens. Also, sad to say, we may have the weaknesses that Paul showed at Athens. Paul tried the mission at Athens solo because he was too impatient to wait for Silas and Timothy to join him (Acts 17:15-16). Similarly, our excessive individualism and lack of community severely weakens our evangelization. Furthermore, Paul did not get around to proclaiming Jesus crucified in Athens. In our culture, and even in our Church, we also fail to emphasize the cross. Thus, like Paul in Athens, we also have few converts.
However, Paul learned his lesson. When he went to his next mission, at Corinth, he determined to "speak of nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor 2:2). Let's be like Paul. Let's try, even if we may fail. Let's learn from our mistakes and lead many to Jesus.
PRAYER: Jesus, I will be Your witness (see Acts 1:8).
PROMISE: "When He comes, however, being the Spirit of truth He will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on His own, but will speak only what He hears, and will announce to you the things to come." –Jn 16:13
PRAISE: The reverence with which Thomas received the Eucharist made others repent of their irreverence.
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