+ Tomorrow is the feast of the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. His earthly work will have been completed and now will be the time for him to begin a new relationship with us – one of being intercessor and divine friend in high places, as we await his coming again to be our judge. What he promises on his departure, though, is this: that everything he told us will have the opportunity to be made very clear – and that a newer and deeper understanding of it all will always be available and hopefully welcomed.
This is the scene in which we find ourselves. We are among those who are being taught all about Jesus – by the promised Spirit. He is here! And we are the ones who have the opportunity to use the graces given, and welcome always newer and deeper understandings of the reality of God, the Church and our Christian selves.
The Athenians of the first reading today symbolize those who are always searching for reasonable understanding. They got to the point of having a very sophisticated series of gods in their own attempts at explaining everything. They even had a shrine to "the unknown god," for anything that they could not explain. Paul used this shrine to step into a presentation on the true God. You worship here what you do not even know – while we, Christians, worship what we personally know. And this is entirely different from any of your "god-knowings!" None of your gods are real live persons with whom you can interact – while our God is very much a person and very much willing to enter into a personal relationship with us!
Then Paul invites the people to enter into a relationship with the One God – by first repenting of their former ways and beliefs – and by embracing a dynamic loving relationship with a three-fold God who can be a constant companion in their earthly lives which are often treacherous and lonely, and can save their lives eternally! Many do just this, and are converted to the Christian faith including Dionysius, a member of the Court of the Areopagus, and a woman named Damaris, and others (men and women) with them.
May we help the Lord bring the message of salvation to others today – simply by our witness to him as "The Truly Known and Knowable God," and by the kindly way we deal with people.
Praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven.
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