Word to the Wise
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 - 6th Week of Easter - Wed
[Acts 17:15, 22-18:1 and John 16:12-15]"You Athenians, I see that in every respect you are very religious. For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines, I even discovered an altar inscribed, "To an Unknown God." What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you!"
This speech by Paul in the Greek forum (Areopagus) is my favorite. I hope all my Beloved Congregation will read it. He's not speaking to people who have any background in Judaism (and certainly not in Christianity - which was brand new). It is the ultimate preaching challenge! Some of them "scoffed at him" when he spoke of the resurrection. Others, however, showed some curiosity and became believers! I remember from my own experiences in campus ministry that there would always be some "scoffers" but others would be intrigued. Some, like Nicodemus, would come privately to address their personal questions.
Paul had walked around and seen all the religious shrines. But the Greeks wanted to be sure they covered the theological spectrum, so they had the altar to an unknown God! Paul cleverly uses that as his "hook" to say that the one they did not "know" is the one he came to preach! Our own society has similar aspects. Outside of adamant atheists, there are altars in every corner to an"unknown God. Our baptism challenges us to proclaim that "unknown God" even if we will be scoffed at, because there may well be others who, like Dionysius and Damaris in today's first reading, may want to hear from us about this on another occasion. AMEN