In Him we live and move and have our being

Acts 17:15.22-8:1, Jn 16:12-15. At Areopagus in the heart of Athens, Paul recognised the exquisite beauty of its many artworks carved out of marble. The Greeks admired perfect sculptures of the human form and carved wonderful statues, male and female, of athletes and deities. Athens was truly a great and magnificent city, with influence and prestige and a major centre of learning and philosophy, having been renowned for its many thinkers and philosophers, such as Plato, Socrates, Aristotle among others. In today's first reading, 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 an unknown god” and declared: “What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim 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.

However, saying that God has endorsed Jesus by raising Him from the dead, Paul lost his audience. At that point, some sneered, while others said: “We will hear you again about this.” Thus, a minority of them became believers in Jesus. They came to know that the unknown God - "agnostos theos" - does not dwell in statues or sanctuaries, but in human hearts and communities. As Paul puts it: "In him we live and move and have our being.” Jesus sends the Spirit to reveal this truth to us as He promised in today's Gospel. By the Spirit we have within us the life-giving message of Jesus, the pledge of what we are to become by dying and rising with Him. The Paraclete, the Spirit of Truth will lead us to the complete truth, about Jesus, God, our world and ourselves. This is a life-long journey. We are always on our way to divine destination. 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 kindness of the Lord be upon those who do not recognise His presence, enkindle in us the fire of His love and send the Holy Spirit into our hearts, so that we may walk in His way! Amen!! Good morning, Peace with you!!!