“So Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, nor is he served by human hands, . . . . . . . . . . . .”
Excerpt, First Reading, Wednesday 8th May 2024 – ACTS 17: 15.22-18: 1.
So, while the Apostle Paul was walking along the streets of Athens and was gazing at different shrines and sacrifice offerings made at those shrines to idols, he possibly did not mince his face in disgust at such idolatrous people.
Rather, he was captivated with their impressive acts of religiosity.
It was with such positive outlook that he possibly saw clear enough to discover among those many shrines a few other ones that were dedicated to an ‘unknown god’.
This supposed ‘unknown god’ became the subject upon which he could have easy access to preach to the Athenians.
Dear friend, when we mince our face in disgust at a person, people or at something, we tend to have already taken our decision about it or them.
This is by no means stating that one mustn’t be disgusted by what disgusts. Nevertheless, we must yet keep an open mind even when we mince our face in disgust.
Keeping an open mind helps us to keep our emotions in check, so as to think straight and clear.
This is an indication that, no matter what the situation may be, one is still capable of making some good out of it. All depends on how one reacts to it.
For example, most of us are currently groaning under the economic crunch, especially the hyper inflation in the cost of food items.
Nevertheless, such times are when those of us who are frivolous with our resources would be compelled to learn to manage the now meagre resources to meeting our teaming needs.
That most of us have since not crumbled is an indication that we too have learnt ways and means to overcome the times.
My dear friend, we must always endeavour to keep an open mind both in pleasant and otherwise situations.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo