Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Today’s reading has St. Paul preaching in the Aeropagus in Athens. He calls on the Athenians to come to know the “Unknown God.” How amazing it is that God is unknown to us because of our lack of understanding and is still closer to us then we know? St. Paul declares that God gives life to all creatures. God is close to us in life because He gives us life. And we gain new life in Christ. We like to believe we have it all figured out. The Athenians sure did. Athens had been the center of intellectual thought in the Ancient World. Philosophy was born in Greece. Yet they still didn’t know the God who was close to them.
There is a movie on St. Augustine called The Restless Heart, which details his life from his childhood in Thagaste to his rise to prominence in Milan and to his time as a bishop. At one point, he and other Catholic bishops are debating the Donatists. Augustine eloquently refutes the arguments of the Donatists. He describes how he once was in love with a woman, and how he lost his son to illness. And through all this, he learned God is closer to us than any lover or any son to a father. That is why we can speak of Jesus with passion and conviction because of his closeness to us. We, like St. Paul, want to help people “know” the Unknown God.
Many scoff at the Gospel as some Athenians did in today’s reading. We must not lose faith. We gain confidence from the Spirit of Truth that Jesus promised to send. Jesus still sends His Spirit upon us today. The Spirit can come upon you even in this very instant. We can move forward even when people do not accept the Word of God that we present to them. Any soul gained makes the effort worth it. St. Paul gained some followers to Christ today since “some did join.” Among them was Dionysius, who became an important early disciple. So St. Paul’s efforts paid off despite the dismissal from some Athenians.
Preaching the Gospel does indeed bear fruit. We must persevere despite the ridicule we may receive. What ways can you come to know the Unknown God? Do you spend any time in Eucharistic Adoration? Many credit this holy practice for improving their spiritual life.
Reflection by Br. Matthew Marie, OSB
Posted in Daily Reflections, Lenten Resources