Do we modern-day Catholics differ that much from the ancient Athenians? Do we really know God as He has revealed Himself to His people? Do we go through the motions in "lip service," while our hearts are far from God? (Mk 7:6) Do we even believe He is a God Who is truly present in the Holy Eucharist? Many Catholics do not believe so.
Jesus says in today's Gospel that He is sending the Holy Spirit to take God's riches revealed in Jesus and announce them to us (Jn 16:14). Jesus came to make God known to us. Let's spend our lives getting to know God, and then helping others to know God. God has revealed a great deal about Himself — in the Scriptures, in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in the saints, and in prayer. God desires that we know Him (Hos 6:6).
We must not be like the Athenians, who came to the altar to worship a god they didn't know, and worshiped "just in case" this unknown god had power to improve their lives. We cannot merely put in our time at the altar in case God might bless us (see Mk 7:6-7). Let us rather spend our lives growing in a relationship of love with our God, Who wants the earth to "be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water covers the sea" (Is 11:9).
During the next week, we pray the Pentecost Novena in preparation to receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. God has sent the Spirit so we can know Him. "Receive the Holy Spirit" (Jn 20:22).
| PRAYER: | Father, "I wish to know Christ" (Phil 3:10), the Holy Spirit, and You. Fill me with an insatiable hunger and thirst to know You more deeply every day. |
| PROMISE: | "When He comes, however, being the Spirit of Truth He will guide you to all truth." –Jn 16:13 |
| PRAISE: | Father James attended a Life in the Spirit seminar. He received an even deeper love for the Word of God. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College