The Areopagus, or Mars Hill, is a bare marble hill next to the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Taking the name of this hill where they first began meeting, the earliest aristocratic legislative council of ancient Athens took the name "Areopagus." The council kept this name as it changed locations to the marketplace and as its purpose evolved. "Members of the Areopagus individually and the institution generally were held in high regard and considered to be worthy of respect." (http://www.stoa.org: “The Council of the Areopagus” © Christopher W. Blackwell, January 26, 2003)
One day the Apostle Paul arrived at the Areopagus. By the personality he reveals to us in his writings, Paul seems by nature to be a man who is “all in” to whatever or whoever it is that he believes in. He can be quite hard and confrontational with people. Although he is distressed by the rampant “idolatry” in Athens, he does not chastise anyone when he arrives at the Areopagus. Instead, he meets these people where they are. He recognizes something in their religious fervor and finds an opening to teach them about God the Creator of all. This is not really surprising for, just as Jesus did, Paul saved his harsh critiques for believers. This is especially true with jealous and powerful leaders in the Hebrew religious hierarchy that Jesus and Paul, each in their own way, seemed to be at odds with.
These powerful Greek intellectuals of the Areopagus are so philosophical and "religious" that, among all of the gods and idols they have built, stands a shrine (idol) to worship a god they don’t even know. Is that one of those fearful “just to be on the safe side” acts? Maybe, but I think more likely this is their way of telling the world that they are perpetual “seekers.” So, always and ultimately, is Paul! The prophet Jeremiah once said, speaking for God, “I will let you find me if you seek me with your whole heart.” (29:14) Paul, a whole-hearted seeker is confident that those who are truly seeking God will find God, just as he did. Maybe.
One day the Apostle Paul arrived at the Areopagus. By the personality he reveals to us in his writings, Paul seems by nature to be a man who is “all in” to whatever or whoever it is that he believes in. He can be quite hard and confrontational with people. Although he is distressed by the rampant “idolatry” in Athens, he does not chastise anyone when he arrives at the Areopagus. Instead, he meets these people where they are. He recognizes something in their religious fervor and finds an opening to teach them about God the Creator of all. This is not really surprising for, just as Jesus did, Paul saved his harsh critiques for believers. This is especially true with jealous and powerful leaders in the Hebrew religious hierarchy that Jesus and Paul, each in their own way, seemed to be at odds with.
These powerful Greek intellectuals of the Areopagus are so philosophical and "religious" that, among all of the gods and idols they have built, stands a shrine (idol) to worship a god they don’t even know. Is that one of those fearful “just to be on the safe side” acts? Maybe, but I think more likely this is their way of telling the world that they are perpetual “seekers.” So, always and ultimately, is Paul! The prophet Jeremiah once said, speaking for God, “I will let you find me if you seek me with your whole heart.” (29:14) Paul, a whole-hearted seeker is confident that those who are truly seeking God will find God, just as he did. Maybe.
I invite you to spend a few moments nurturing your seeking heart with the God of Unknowing as you read and pray and listen and celebrate God’s Presence through the Word. Breathe and settle into a place of openness within yourself with a simple breath prayer. Use this one or create your own (six to eight syllables is optimal for breath prayer but you can use more with deeper breathing :)
Breathing in ... Life-Giving God
Breathing out ... Let me breathe in your Presence
and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ... Pray: As I breathe in your Presence, reveal yourself to me through my prayerful reading. Amen.
Read Act 17:22-31 from the Contemporary English Version (CEV) slowly. Immerse yourself in the vivid images as you engage in Lectio Divina, or Praying with Scripture. Allow yourself to be drawn deeply into God’s Presence as you read and pray and listen.
So Paul stood up in front of the council and said: People of Athens, I see that you are very religious. As I was going through your city and looking at the things you worship, I found an altar with the words, “To an Unknown God.” You worship this God, but you don’t really know him. So I want to tell you about him. This God made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth, and he doesn’t live in temples built by human hands. He doesn’t need help from anyone. He gives life, breath, and everything else to all people. From one person God made all nations who live on earth, and he decided when and where every nation would be. God has done all this, so that we will look for him and reach out and find him. He isn’t far from any of us, and he gives us the power to live, to move, and to be who we are. “We are his children,” just as some of your poets have said. Since we are God’s children, we must not think that he is like an idol made out of gold or silver or stone. He isn’t like anything that humans have thought up and made. In the past, God forgave all this because people did not know what they were doing. But now he says that everyone everywhere must turn to him. He has set a day when he will judge the world’s people with fairness. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death.
Read this passage again slowly and Reflect on just a word or phrase … or an image that emerges to draw your attention. Sit with your selection and listen to the whispers of the God you know ... Listen! Turn your word or phrase or image over and over in your mind. Let God speak into your heart.
Where is God, the Creator of heaven and earth, speaking into your life through this passage?
Read the passage again slowly and Respond to God. Once again turn your attention to your word or phrase or image. Know that it is ok if you are being drawn in a different direction on this reading!
As you contemplate your word or phrase or image, how are you being called to respond to God? In word … prayer … action … or some other way?
Read the passage again and Rest. Allow God to draw you deeper into the Presence of the within whom you live and move and into the relationship of love that God who gives you the power to be who you are. Let all the words fade away ... until you are moved to take up a journal and write about your meditation or perhaps to take a walk and drink in the majesty of God’s creation ...
Pray: Once you were unknown to me but you made your presence known in my life in so many ways, especially as I gaze upon the beauty of the nature you have created. Now I seek to be in your presence as my way of being in the world. Lead me, guide me, and let me always offer to share your loving presence with all. Amen.
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