First Reading

Reading from the book of the Acts of the Apostles

Acts 17:15-16, 22–18:1

In those days, the Christians who helped Paul escape from Berea took him as far as the city of Athens. Paul sent them back with instructions that Silas and Timothy should join him as soon as possible.

One day, while waiting for them in Athens, Paul was provoked to indignation as he observed the city full of idols. So he appeared before the Areopagus and said:

«Athenians: From what I see, you are extremely religious. As I walked through the city and observed your monuments, I found an altar with this inscription: ‘To an Unknown God.’ Well then, what you worship without knowing, I proclaim to you.

The God who made the world and everything in it, being the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands, nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything; rather, he is the one who gives to all life and breath and everything.

From one man he made every nation of the human race to dwell on all the face of the earth, determining their appointed times and the boundaries of their territories. God intended that they should seek him and perhaps grope after him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being.’ As even one of your poets has said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’

Therefore, since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divinity is like an image of gold or silver or stone, an image made by human art and imagination. God has overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he calls on all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness through a man whom he has appointed, and he has given proof of this to all by raising him from the dead.»

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, while others said, «We should like to hear you on this matter another time.» Then Paul left them. However, some did join him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus; a woman named Damaris; and others with them. After this he left Athens and went to Corinth.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint John

John 16:12-15

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: «I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.»