Wednesday in the sixth week of Easter

May I hereby draw your attention to

the daily reading of the Gospel?

This invitation wants to make you partakers of the joy

of the Gospel. Everyone, no one excepted,

can experience that joy by opening their hearts

to the healing power of God’s word.

Available every day.

Today we have the famous speech on the Areopagus.

Paul wanders around Athens alone, watching over his companions. What he sees arouses his wrath. He abhors pagan religiosity. God does not dwell in man-made temples (verse 2a); God does not ask to be cared for by human hands (verse 25 sacrifices); God cannot be depicted in man-made images (verse 29). Yet in all this he finds a starting point for speaking about the true God. Their search is positive. His appearance is certainly not a success with the Athenians. Especially the resurrection belief gives offence, and their last remark is meant to be mocking rather than a show of interest.

In that day Paul’s companions led him away as far as Athens

and left with the message for Silas and Timothy

to rejoin him as soon as possible.

Arriving in Athens

Paul stood in the middle of the Areópagus

and took the floor :

“Men of Athens,

I see by everything how much awe ye have for higher beings.

“For as I walked around and looked at what you worship

I even discovered an altar with the inscription :

To an unknown god.

“Well,

what you worship without knowing

That I come to proclaim to thee.

“The God who made the world and all that is in it,

dwells not in temples made by hands.

“Nor is He cared for by human hands

As if He needed anyone,

for He Himself gives life and breath to every,

yes everything.

“All the human race He caused to arise from one,

to inhabit the whole surface of the earth,

whereby He established the seasons

and the boundaries of their habitation ;

And to seek God,

whether they might find Him by groping.

“For He is not far from every one of us.

“For through Him we have life ,

moving and being ;

as some of your own poets have said :

For we are of His generation.

“If, therefore, we belong to God’s lineage ,

we must not think

that the divine would resemble gold or silver or stone,

to a product of human skill and ingenuity.

“Without regard to those times of ignorance ,

let God now bring to men the message

that they must repent all and everywhere.

“For He has appointed a day,

in which He is going to judge the world according to justice

by a man whom He has appointed for that purpose.

“To all He gave proof thereof

by raising Him from the dead.”

But when they heard of the resurrection of the dead

some scoffed at it

while others said :

“We will hear about that on occasion.”

Thus Paul went away from them.

Yet some joined him

and came to faith,

including Dionysius the Areopagite

and a woman called Dámaris

and others.

After this, Paul left Athens and came to Corinth.

Full are heaven and earth of your glory.

Or : Alleluia.

Praise the Lord, from heaven;

Praise Him, all that is above.

Praise Him, all His angelic hosts,

praise Him, all His army.

Princes of the earth with all your peoples,

lords and judges in all the land;

young men and young girls,

greybeards and children, all together :

Let them now praise the Name of the Lord,

For this Name alone is exalted.

Glorious is He above earth and heaven.

Glorious He also made His people.

He is the glory of all His faithful,
of Israel’s people, His own possession.

Alleluia.

He who called all into existence

And had mercy on us, His people,

He is risen, Christ the Lord!

Alleluia.

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples :

“Yet much have I yet to say unto you ,

but ye cannot bear it now.

“However, when He comes, the Spirit of truth ,

He will bring you to the full truth ;

He will not speak from Himself

but speak all that He hears

And announce unto thee the things to come.

“He will glorify Me because He will proclaim to you

what He has received from Me.

“I said that He will proclaim to you

What He has received from Me,

because all that the Father has is Mine.”

________________________________________________________

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION LAUDATE DEUM

FROM THE HOLY FATHER

TO ALL PEOPLE

OF GOOD WILL

32. Misconceptions also arise about the concept of ‘meritocracy’, which is seen as an ‘earned’ human power to which everything must be subjected, under the rule of those born with greater abilities and advantages. A healthy approach to the value of hard work, the development of one’s capabilities and a laudable entrepreneurial spirit is one thing, but if true equality of opportunity is not pursued, ‘meritocracy’ can easily become a screen that further consolidates power relations. privileges of the few with great power. In this perverse logic, why should they care about the damage done to our common home when they feel safe under the shield of the financial resources they have acquired through their skills and efforts?

To be continued

The Bible text in this issue is taken from The New Translation of the Bible,

©Dutch Bible Society 2004/2007.

Considerations from Liturgical suggestions for weekdays and Sundays

Laudato Si Official English translation