Good morning, good people.

May the Risen Lord give you peace and happiness.  

We reflect on Acts 17:15, 22-18:1, and John 16:12-15. 

God does not require man-made idols to connect with the human spirit.

When we worship God in Spirit and Truth, we begin to touch the human spirit of a person. 

Worshipping idols is the most ancient practice in every religion except the revealed ones such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. God does not require man-made idols to connect with the human spirit.  God comes to us and dwells among us in His Sacred Word and His Only Beloved Son Jesus Christ. 

In the first reading, St. Paul attempts to convert the people of Greece who were immersed in great philosophy and spirituality.  He preached a sermon that stirred the souls of some that brought Christ into the lives of Greeks. 

In pointing out their strength in religiosity, St. Paul remarked that they seemed to be worshipping a god that was unknown.  He pointed to the altar inscribed “To a God Unknown.” and declared, “What you are thus worshipping in ignorance I intend to make known to you.” (Acts.17:23). 

We are so unfamiliar with the living God because of spectacular magnifying visions of idols around us.

We all need someone like Paul to lead us to the Truth in the Spirit.  It is indeed difficult to perceive God in the unknown when our minds are immersed in the known and attractive elements of the world.  In every one of us is a sanctuary built by God for God’s abode. Human ignorance and over-blown ego do not give this sanctuary the importance it deserves for our personal salvation and peace with God. 

Just like the people of Greeks, our minds are satisfied with the artistic work of art, culture, human philosophy, and achievements, not knowing there is a temple in us for the living God right within each one of us. 

Our constant connecting with God in the inner sanctuary happens with the wilful turning towards God by personal penance and sanctification. God cannot be ignored by human scrupulosity and the superstitious consciousness of the human mind. 

The Gospel teaches us that God manifests Himself in truth and spirit and this is a lifelong process.  The Spirit of God leads us to know the truth day-by-day and fragment after fragment. 

If we are the spark of God’s wisdom and truth, knowing never ends with the Spirit of God. One day, we too will arrive at the compass of truth by the untiring efforts of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 

May we allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit to encounter the complete truth in Jesus Christ.  

May you have a good day. 

God bless you.

 

Fr. Peter Fernando, OFMCap.
Director, Office of Family Ministry, Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (AVOSA).Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.♣Website:https://reflectionsofpeter.org/.♣Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/samarpet