Mathew 5:8
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
OUR HUMBLE, THANKFUL HEARTS
Prayer
I’ve always loved this short story in the Acts of the Apostles about our beloved patronal saint, Paul, while he was in Athens at the Areopagus, arguing and debating with the most learned minds in ancient Greece. How bold and daring he was for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Truly when he coined those immortal words in the beginning of his Letter to the Romans, he was not afraid to put the rubber to the road, to walk it liked he talked it
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“For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’ ”
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’ ”oOr put another way, “The just shall live by faith.”
Or put another way, “The just shall live by faith.”-Let’s go back a bit in the story in Acts to see how Paul got to where was in today’s first lesson. On his second missionary journey, Paul, Silas, and Timothy were in Thessalonica where Paul was successfully preaching the gospel to the pagans, so much so that the Jewish leaders were angered and forced them out of town… “get out of Dodge” you might say. They fled to Beroea, a town to the southwest where the same thing happened. This time, Paul left Timothy and Silas there as he fled for his life to Athens, the seat of Grecian power.
Let’s go back a bit in the story in Acts to see how Paul got to where was in today’s first lesson. On his second missionary journey, Paul, Silas, and Timothy were in Thessalonica where Paul was successfully preaching the gospel to the pagans, so much so that the Jewish leaders were angered and forced them out of town… “get out of Dodge” you might say. They fled to Beroea, a town to the southwest where the same thing happened. This time, Paul left Timothy and Silas there as he fled for his life to Athens, the seat of Grecian power. -When Paul got there, he roamed around the city and noted a huge number of idols which really distressed him. He began talking with the common people about his, including some of the learned ones, the Epicureans and the Stoic philosophers. His arguments were so persuasive that he was invited by the Greek leaders to speak with them in an assembly at the Areopagus which means Rock of Ares. Ares was the Greek god of war, which the Romans called Mars. Thus, this place was also known as Mars Hill.
When Paul got there, he roamed around the city and noted a huge number of idols which really distressed him. He began talking with the common people about his, including some of the learned ones, the Epicureans and the Stoic philosophers. His arguments were so persuasive that he was invited by the Greek leaders to speak with them in an assembly at the Areopagus which means Rock of Ares. Ares was the Greek god of war, which the Romans called Mars. Thus, this place was also known as Mars Hill. -Paul’s strategy for evangelism here was quite clever. “He’d pat ‘em on the back, and then subtly kick ‘em in the you-know what!” Effectively, he’d compliment them on their deep religious feelings as edified by their many objects of worship, including a statue that read, “To an unknown god.” Paul then proceeded to tell them who that unknown god really was, and he did this by quoting from their very own scholars and poets. For example,
Paul’s strategy for evangelism here was quite clever. “He’d pat ‘em on the back, and then subtly kick ‘em in the you-know what!” Effectively, he’d compliment them on their deep religious feelings as edified by their many objects of worship, including a statue that read, “To an unknown god.” Paul then proceeded to tell them who that unknown god really was, and he did this by quoting from their very own scholars and poets. For example, oCiting Epimenides, Paul explained to them how his God, Jesus, was not far from any of them because he fulfilled Epimenides’ phrase, “In him we live and move and have our being.” He then cited their poet Aratus who wrote that “…we too are his, god’s, offspring.” Paul of course used that line to talk about believers in Jesus as children of God, and heirs of eternal life.
Citing Epimenides, Paul explained to them how his God, Jesus, was not far from any of them because he fulfilled Epimenides’ phrase, “In him we live and move and have our being.” He then cited their poet Aratus who wrote that “…we too are his, god’s, offspring.” Paul of course used that line to talk about believers in Jesus as children of God, and heirs of eternal life. Paul reached all the way back to the first book of the Hebrew Scriptures in citing that God, who made the world and everything in it, created humanity from one ancestor. We of course know that to be Adam. Paul eloquently philosophized about how God was not far from his creation, and that men thorough the ages have sought for him and even groped for him, hoping to find him. Voila! He is right here, amongst us, Emmanuel. Hence the line from Epimenides….in him, we live and move, and have our being.
-Paul’s logic was flawless. If indeed we are God’s offspring, how could he be a piece of granite, carved into a human image, formed by the art and imagination of mortals?
Paul’s logic was flawless. If indeed we are God’s offspring, how could he be a piece of granite, carved into a human image, formed by the art and imagination of mortals? -Paul then got down to salvation business. He said that this loving, creator God, the Pantocrator [the ruler of heaven and earth] had been very tolerant of man’s ignorance and mistakes, but now it was time to repent because the judgment of the world was coming, and it was coming through a man, and that man was none other than Jesus Christ.
Paul then got down to salvation business. He said that this loving, creator God, the Pantocrator [the ruler of heaven and earth] had been very tolerant of man’s ignorance and mistakes, but now it was time to repent because the judgment of the world was coming, and it was coming through a man, and that man was none other than Jesus Christ.-And how did Paul know this? By the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. You could have imagined their stunned silence at this amazing statement. Jesus would judge the world in righteousness.
And how did Paul know this? By the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. You could have imagined their stunned silence at this amazing statement. Jesus would judge the world in righteousness.-They say that the definition of theology is faith seeking understanding. Here Paul was trying to help these Greeks who were aimlessly seeking a power beyond themselves to find that very “unknown god.”
They say that the definition of theology is faith seeking understanding. Here Paul was trying to help these Greeks who were aimlessly seeking a power beyond themselves to find that very “unknown god.”-In Paul’s Letter to the Romans, chapter one, he argues persuasively that what can be known about God is plain to see before all humans. God’s invisible eternal power and divine nature can be understood through the things he has made….creation itself. Thus no one can claim ignorance; they are without excuse. Instead, they formed idols, exchanging the glory of the immortal God for man-made images.
In Paul’s Letter to the Romans, chapter one, he argues persuasively that what can be known about God is plain to see before all humans. God’s invisible eternal power and divine nature can be understood through the things he has made….creation itself. Thus no one can claim ignorance; they are without excuse. Instead, they formed idols, exchanging the glory of the immortal God for man-made images. -Now some of the learned Greeks called Paul a babbler, mocking him as a “cock-sparrow” that would pick up scraps of learning from here and there and form it into an overarching philosophy. The idea of a resurrection caused some of them to scoff at Paul but others said that they would like to hear him again. Some of them joined Paul and became believers, including a high ranking official of the Areopagus and a woman named Damaris, as well as others.
Now some of the learned Greeks called Paul a babbler, mocking him as a “cock-sparrow” that would pick up scraps of learning from here and there and form it into an overarching philosophy. The idea of a resurrection caused some of them to scoff at Paul but others said that they would like to hear him again. Some of them joined Paul and became believers, including a high ranking official of the Areopagus and a woman named Damaris, as well as others.Paul was effectively living into the teaching that Jesus gave his disciples during his last 24 hours on earth, provided for us today in our Gospel from John’s 14th chapter. For those who loved God, who have his commandments and obey them, he would send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. Greeks of course were seekers of truth. Now this gift from God, the Holy Spirit, would abide within the believer, and be in them, the very words that the Greek philosopher Epimenides used. How coincidental! And by this gift of the Holy Spirit, the Trinitarian life would unfold within the heart of the believer because the Father was in the Son, and the Son revealed himself to the believer through the Spirit. Amen.
-The reference to creation by Paul reminds us today of God’s gift to us on this earth. Today, we celebrate Rogation Sunday, coming from the Latin word, rogare, meaning to ask. We ask God to bless the planting and growing of the crops, to give us good weather for harvesting, and to be generous in our sharing these God-given gifts. Sharing with the good folks in Joplin is part of our offering today.
The reference to creation by Paul reminds us today of God’s gift to us on this earth. Today, we celebrate Rogation Sunday, coming from the Latin word, rogare, meaning to ask. We ask God to bless the planting and growing of the crops, to give us good weather for harvesting, and to be generous in our sharing these God-given gifts. Sharing with the good folks in Joplin is part of our offering today. -The love of God is present in the love that people show for one another on this earth….the so called “doing unto others as we would have them do unto us.” God is made visible in this simple way.
The love of God is present in the love that people show for one another on this earth….the so called “doing unto others as we would have them do unto us.” God is made visible in this simple way. -The recollection of Memorial Day this coming Monday is another sign of giving, a form of no greater love that a person has who would lay down their life for another. We reverently remember the fallen Americans in all the wars who died so that we could live free and be able to choose the very things we are talking about his Sunday morning.
The recollection of Memorial Day this coming Monday is another sign of giving, a form of no greater love that a person has who would lay down their life for another. We reverently remember the fallen Americans in all the wars who died so that we could live free and be able to choose the very things we are talking about his Sunday morning. -I think God is hopeful that all would come to him and find him. He looks to those with a humble, thankful heart. As our Collect said today, we ought to love God in all things and above all things, idols included.
I think God is hopeful that all would come to him and find him. He looks to those with a humble, thankful heart. As our Collect said today, we ought to love God in all things and above all things, idols included. -Yes, the Gospel of John reminds us that believing is seeing. That is the very thing the learned Greeks were missing…faith. The righteous or just shall live by being faithful. Ironically, the entire New Testament was written in Greek, including Paul’s epistles. Maybe Paul’s work there in Athens was not in vain.
Yes, the Gospel of John reminds us that believing is seeing. That is the very thing the learned Greeks were missing…faith. The righteous or just shall live by being faithful. Ironically, the entire New Testament was written in Greek, including Paul’s epistles. Maybe Paul’s work there in Athens was not in vain. -Are we so bold today as to confront the powers of this world and not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Paul took a chance on love; how about you! The Holy Spirit will empower you.
Are we so bold today as to confront the powers of this world and not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Paul took a chance on love; how about you! The Holy Spirit will empower you. AMEN
