Wednesday of the
Sixth Week of Easter
(Acts 7:15.22-18.1; John 16:12-15)
It is said that St. Paul made a strategic move in leaving
Athens for Corinth. In the first century
Athens was an old city more like a museum than an incubator of dreams. Corinth, on the other hand, was a crossroads
where new ideas circulated with the world’s merchandise. Today’s first reading relates Paul’s humbling
experience in preaching to Athenians.
Paul tries to be practical not hypothetical as he
addresses his audience at the Areopagus.
He refers to the Unknown God whose altar stands in their midst. Then he relates this god to the Creator of the
Jewish Scriptures. Some of his audience
may give Paul their attention. But when he mentions that his God raised Jesus
from the dead, the people dismiss him as a lunatic. In the less sophisticated, more enterprising
Corinth the people will respond enthusiastically to the prospect of the
resurrection.
We do as well. We botch
up things so much that we long to make amends to people who are no longer among
us. Reconciling with them in the
resurrection of the dead is not just wishful thinking. We have testimony of Jesus’ resurrection and
his promise to come back for those who love him. We yearn to go with him to the dwelling place
of our beloved.
