Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

LECTIONARY
293

FIRST READING

Acts 17:15, 22—18:1

Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed. So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them. After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

PSALM

148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14

Response: Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all you his angels;
praise him, all you his hosts.

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.

Praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
His majesty is above earth and heaven.

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.

GOSPEL

Jn 16:12-15

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Daily Reflection

The first reading is Paul’s famous speech given at the heart of ancient Greek culture, the Areopagus of Athens. The Athenians were deeply religious people who worshipped a multiplicity of gods and were curious to discover their relationship and obligations to these deities. An altar dedicated to the “Unknown God” provides Paul the opportunity to make God known!

Paul speaks emphatically of God who does not wish for sacrifice or idol worship and who “is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being”. He shares God’s invitation to change so as to be ready for the last judgment; he offers proof provided by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Some scoff while others wish to hear more.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells his apostles: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you to all truth.” Aware of Jesus’ teaching, Paul avoids an information overload. He knows that having done his part, the Holy Spirit would guide his listeners to the truth.

Today, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you to the truth.