It is He who gives us all Life

EASTERTIDE SPIRITUAL DIET: Acts 17:15.22-18:1, Jn 16:12-15. Today’s first reading presents Paul’s recognition of the exquisite beauty of many artworks carved out of marble at the Areopagus. Addressing a curious Athenian audience, Paul tried to help them appreciate the Divine influence on all human life. He pointed to one of their altars, which was inscribed, “To a God Unknown” and declared: “What you are thus worshipping in ignorance, I intend to make known to you.” After a polished, well-articulated speech, he concluded with an idea that clashed with the perfection of human nature as understood by the Greeks.

By saying that God has endorsed Jesus by raising Him from the dead, He lost His audience. At that point “some sneered, while others said: “We must hear from you on this some other time.” Still, a tiny minority of them did become believers in Jesus, a man called Dionysius and a woman named Damaris and a few others. They came to know that the unknown God, does not dwell in statues or sanctuaries, but in human hearts and communities. As Paul put it: “it is he who gives to all life and breath and everything else.” By the Spirit we have within us the life-giving message of Jesus, as presented to us in today’s Gospel. The great life-truths take a long time to absorb. This is certainly true about faith. Jesus announces that He has many things to say to them but that they are not ready for them yet. The Paraclete, the Spirit of Truth, who will be sent to them in the future, will reveal these things to them and will lead them towards the complete truth. The Holy Spirit will lead us to the complete truth, about Jesus, God, our world and ourselves. This is a life-long journey. Indeed, we will never attain the complete truth in this life. We are always on the way. We can never truly say: “I know it all.” Rather, we must always leave ourselves open to being led by the Spirit ever more closely towards the complete truth, towards the one who said of Himself: “I am the truth.”

May the Lord empower us to walk faithfully in His path, now and always! Amen!! Have a glorious day!!!