Guide You to All Truth

Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands...For ‘In him we live and move and have our being,’ as even some of your poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’  Acts 17:24, 28

“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.  John 16:12-13

Piety

Father, in unity share with us all that is yours so that we may come to know you and love you. Amen.

Study

A close friends who was raised Catholic is one of many of my friends who has moved away from the organized church for much of his adult life.  Today’s reading reminds me of how he spends his Sundays.  He does not spend time in sanctuaries made by human hands but rather running around a lake or on the beach or just around the city or suburb where he happens to live or visit. Being out in the natural surroundings of God’s natural environment is his way of worshiping what God has created and given to us.  

He moves and has his being there while people run toward churches on Sunday only to live how they choose from Monday through Saturday.  My friend lives his faith experience in serving others in his job, in his family, and in his community.

Those Greeks Gnostics addressed by Paul paved the way for people like my friend.  They don’t have any issue with parts of the Word.  However, some of the church practices and hypocrisies have driven them away over the years. 

Action

Pope Francis has signaled that he may be open to addressing some of the practices and sins which have driven people away from the church.  The news Monday after his visit to the Holy Land announced that he will meet with a small group of victims of sexual abuse along with Boston Archbishop Cardinal Sean O’Malley. 

When issues like sexual abuse, celibacy, the treatment of opportunities for all people and more are addressed in a substantive and meaningful way, maybe more people will react like Dionysius, Damaris, and others who invited church leaders of today to return and speak to them some more about the Good News as the Holy Spirit guide us all to the truth.