Word to the Wise
Wednesday, May 4, 2016 - 6th Week of Easter - Wed
[Acts 17:15, 22-18:1 and John 16:12-15]WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2016 WEDNESDAY IN THE SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER [Acts 17:15, 22-18:1 and John 16:12-15] "What, therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you..." When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, "We should like to hear FYI on this some other time." And so Paul left them. But some did join him, and became believers." [Acts] During all these days of reflection on the "Farewell Discourse" from the Gospel of John, which is pre-Pentecost, there have been scriptures from the Acts of the Apostles showing post-Pentecostal preaching. The first scripture for today is one of the more remarkable examples because Paul is preaching in the public forum in Athens to a "pagan" audience. He had noted the existence of an "altar to an unknown God" among all the many altars to various deities. It is this altar that inspires the preaching in today's first scripture from Acts. Jesus is not mentioned by name but only as "a man he [God] has appointed, and he has provided confirmation for all by raising him from the dead." This, of course is what causes the scoffing by some and belief by others. I put the word "pagan" in quotation marks because it is clear that there was some kind of faith present in the Athenians with all their altars! In my own experience, I have never met a total non-believer. Even atheists have some kind of faith, although it may not be in the God we know and believe in. Paul builds on the faith that he sees there in the audience. His preaching at least shows respect but goes further. We can learn from this. Respect for a glimmer of truth can lead to sharing the fullness of truth. AMEN
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