Let’s have some fun—just this once. There is a lot going on in today’s first reading of Acts 17 as we ponder the interaction between St Paul and the Greek judges at the Areopagus.
The foundation for the dialogue is framed in today’s Gospel. There, Jesus tells His disciples that He has much more to tell them, but they cannot bear it now. Rather the Spirit of truth will guide them and declare to them the things that are coming. In so doing, the Spirit of truth will glorify Our Lord.
Saint Paul’s Call to Evangelize
St Paul was called to be an Apostle personally by Jesus. Saul of Tarsus’ conversion story is well known. After receiving the laying of hands and baptism and being filled with the promised Holy Spirit, Saul now Paul, becomes the herald of the Lord to the Gentiles as a chosen instrument (Acts 9:15-18).
Cardinal Ratzinger, before being called to the chair of St Peter, explained that when we seek to evangelize others, we must focus on what we have in common. Here, St. Paul is speaking to Greek judges who believe in many gods, but not the single God of Israel or His only begotten Son. Yet, St Paul seeks and finds common ground.
St Paul and The Judges
To begin, we must understand that these judges at the Areopagus, were prestigious and well-regarded by the Athenians. They adjudicated serious criminal cases and even ruled on religious matters. These judges were well educated in the law and philosophy. The Apostle was also the perfect Christian messenger, the brightest student of the great Jewish rabbi, Rabban Gamaliel of the Sanhedrin. The Holy Spirit had chosen this forum well.
St Paul and the Unknown God
First, St Paul notes the Greeks too, are religious. He describes one of their altars erected “To an Unknown God.” In ancient times, to know the name of someone was to know the person. The God of Israel shared His name with Moses, and as such it was understood that Moses knew the God. Personally, I became a son of God, when I was baptized into the “name” of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Names advance or form relationships.
St Paul goes on to describe that the Unknown God of the Greeks, has a name, and that He is the fulfillment of all that their pagan gods represent. Paul’s description of the God of Israel would have sounded similar to the power and prestige of the Greek god Zeus (Common ground). Unlike Zeus, however, the God of Israel will raise all of us from the dead, when He judges the world (Uncommon ground, but more exciting than Zeus).
“We should like to hear you on this some other time,” some then exclaimed.
Second, St Paul describes the God of Israel in the same manner Epimenides, the 6th century BC poet, had described Zeus (More common ground). “In the ‘unknown God’ we live and move and have our being.” YHWH, the God of Israel had already been described to the Greeks by their ancient poets. Now the Greeks knew His true name. It wasn’t Zeus. The Good News of the Gospel was better than Zeus provided, and proof resided in the fact that YHWH had already raised Jesus from the dead, and likewise would also someday raise the Greeks.
St Paul and the First Greek Bishop
Dionysius heard St Paul that day and believed. Dionysius became the first Bishop of Athens, no doubt ordained by St Paul, and today is venerated as a patron saint of Judges. His feast day is October 9th.
Listen now to the following excerpt from the Eucharistic Prayer for Mass during the Easter Season, Year A (Easter 6):
— You are the Lord of heaven and earth, maker of all things,
— And we are your children, by the grace of Jesus Christ.
— In You, O GOD, we live and move and have our being.
We can still hear the words of Epimenides and St Paul echoed in our liturgy. The true Common ground even today.
I really appreciated this reflection today! St. Paul’s encounter with the Athenians is worth remembering today in our evangelization efforts. You are right in that we need to focus on our common ground with those who don’t yet know Christ. Inviting people of other faiths to know Christ is a challenge, but it helps to read your reflection and be encouraged. I heartily agree with your emphasis on the importance of knowing “the name” of a person in any relationship, most of all our relationship with God. Thank you!