In this first reading Paul has arrived in Athens.

He’s on his second missionary journey. Athens would have presented him with one of his greatest challenge yet, to preach Christ in this sophisticated, pagan city, the centre of the classical world.

He’s invited to address the city’s leaders at the Areopagus, a hill on the outskirts of the city.

In Paul’s day, it served as the high court and would have been a very significant place for Paul to speak.

Here is what Paul has to say.

Reading Acts 17:22-34

It’s hard to judge whether Paul’s speech was a failure of evangelism or a success. Some of those who heard him scoffed and ridiculed; others were prepared to give him a second hearing and a few became believers. The seeds of faith may have been sown but it was hardly the resounding success Paul might have hoped for.

Let’s imagine how it might have been in Athens.

It wasn’t as if Paul hadn’t done his homework. He’d walked around the city to get a feel for the religious culture. He’d seen the temples and statues of the ancient gods and goddesses – Zeus the king of the gods, Apollo the god of music, Aphrodite the goddess of love and so on. He’d listened and talked to people, to try and pick up on their concerns. He hadn’t just used a set-speech or an old sermon but tried to tap into the world view of his audience to meet them where they were.

Paul had been waiting for his friends Timothy and Silas to join him and could have given himself a break but no, that wasn’t his style. Here was an opportunity to present the gospel so he dived straight in. It would have been pretty daunting taking on the Athenian citizens who reveled in this kind of debate but Paul argued with anyone who would listen and soon gathered a crowd around him. The Athenians liked nothing better than discussing a new religion; it was meat and drink to them

So they invited him to address them formally at the Areopogus. Paul starts cautiously, complimenting them on their religious nature. He says, it seems they were prepared to worship almost anything because they’d even put up an altar to an ‘unknown god’ just in case. Paul uses a mixture of flattery and criticism, on the one hand complimenting them on their altars and then telling them they are useless! Instead, he says, they should hear the good news of a creator God who made the world and everything in it. He’s the one true God, who doesn’t live in shrines made by human hands but God who can be known and wants to be known. At the end of his address Paul reaches a climax by saying God is going to call the world to account and put everything to rights. It means everyone will have to repent and be judged.

That’s not what the crowd want to hear. They want to be praised for their religious observances and applauded for their many gods and sacrifices, not criticised and judged by Paul. The Athenians like novelty and variety and want to keep their options open. It’s as though they want to control God by the services they offer him. Paul reminds them God doesn’t need gifts; he is the source of every good gift.

He talks about the one appointed by God whom God has raised from the dead but doesn’t even get as far as mentioning Jesus by name. The Athenians have heard enough.

Whether its talk of judgement or resurrection that alienates them or the belief in one God rather than many gods that turns them off, who knows? The crowd become bored and incredulous. They’re not going to be taken to task by Paul and agree with this new religion and dump their many other gods, though a few people believed and became Christians

Is novelty and variety something we look for today? Dipping into different faiths, different denominations, shopping around to find the ‘right’ church? Perhaps like the Athenians we like novelty and variety rather than commitment. We like the idea of controlling God, of keeping him in his place rather than letting God take control of our lives and letting him guide us. We like the idea of our lives having meaning and purpose but maybe not so much, that the meaning is God’s, but rather it is centred on ourselves.

God calls us to be committed to him, to make Christ the priority in our lives, to give ourselves wholeheartedly to him with joy and conviction. It’s then we find true meaning and purpose, life in all its fullness and, like Paul, discover: ’that in him we move and live and have our being’

Chastened by his experience in Athens, Paul quickly left the city for Corinth. It was surely what Christ would have advised him to do. Jesus once told his disciples; to go where they were made welcome but otherwise move on. In Corinth, Paul received a much warmer reception than in Athens. He met Aquila and Priscilla, fellow Jews and tent –makers who became close friends and leaders in the church. He stayed there over a year and the church took root.

We hear of no similar blossoming in Athens.

Like Paul, there may be times we try something new for Christ and hit a wall. Our instinct is to persevere but the time may not be right, the resources insufficient and the only thing to do is give up and move in a different direction.

That was a salutary lesson John and I once learnt. We were involved in plans for a new church building. The architect was brilliant; the plans ambitious; it was everything the church dreamed of. We stuck at it and the congregation worked hard to raise funds but it became too much. We were never going to make it and the decision had to be taken to go for a more modest building. It was the right decision and a new church became a reality, though we were no longer there.

One final thought. What encouraged Paul to bounce back in Corinth - His friends Silas and Timothy re-joined him; he discovered new friends in Aquila and Priscilla, he was determined to continue his mission but most of all it was the power of the Spirit enabling, and strengthening him,

In the Gospel reading for today, part of John’s Gospel Chapter14, Jesus promises his disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit to all who love him and keep his commandments. He says to them:

‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him or knows him. You know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you’ (John 14:15-27’

Jesus gives us the Spirit to be with us always; whatever’s happening in our lives in these difficult, uncertain times. His Spirit, strengthening us, enables us to continue and his unconditional love never lets us go.

Prayers E6 4B

We pray for all affected during this Covid-19 pandemic:

· For those who are ill, in hospital and care homes, in hospices or at home

· For those who have lost loved ones

· For the NHS and all care workers

· For keyworkers in the community and in the workplace

· for those who are anxious about their jobs or who have lost their jobs

· For parents struggling to feed their families and to make ends meet.

· For young people worrying about their future

· For the Prime Minister, the government and all who hold responsibility in these difficult times as they make decisions that affect us all

· For countries around the world struggling with the same iissues

Silence

Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer

A prayer for ourselves by Anna Herriman (a local preacher who is profoundly deaf and preaches in British Sign Language

(from Methodist Church Facebook Page)

Risen Christ, in the darkness of the storm, in loneliness and isolation, despair and we are afraid, remind us that you are the calm and the beacon in the night.

When we cannot sit close or embrace those who are dear to us, remind us that together you carry us in your loving arms.

No matter where we are whether alone or with others at home, remind us that you are by our side always.

May we in this storm, find in you shelter, strength, peace and hope and that we may bring those to others

A Blessing