First Reading: Acts 17:15,22-18.1
Psalm 148
Gospel: John 16:12-15

In our reflection today I want to focus on the Acts of the Apostles where St. Paul addressed the worshipers at the temple of Areopagus in Athens (Greece), who the “True God” the creator of them all.’  is, without imposing and minimizing the truth.

 St. Paul in today’s reading emphasizes: “The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything” (Acts 17:15ff).

 If God does not need anything from us, why bother God and why don’t we live in self-complacency? Will this statement satisfy our living? Can we say objectively, we don’t need God because we have almost everything that we need for our earthly life? We can go on… with kind of questions. But at the end of the day, we become losers. The matter of fact, the event of this “pandemic” is unprecedented, and nobody expected it to be global, no quick solution and deadly.

I dare to say that we need God because our life is connected to Him and without Him, no lasting happiness comes. We worship and pray because we need God’s guide for our life. What Christ says is very much true that He is our way our truth and our life. Branches cut off from the tree are useless but put them into the fire.  

 We can also reflect the prayer of St. Francis, “it is in giving that we receive.” The fact of the matter is that the wealth we have comes from God. We are simply administrators and employees at His field, which is the world that we live in.  Our life becomes complete when we are God-centered rather than self-centered.  

 We need to know and comprehend many things. That’s why Jesus tells us “I still have many things to say to you. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth”.

 Let’s open our hearts to accept the Lord as our true guide and source of our Being.

Fr. Mussie