Lectionary readings for Sunday 17th May 2020 – Easter 6 (Year A)

• Acts 17:22-31
• Ps 66:8-20
• 1 Pt 3:13-22
• Jn 14:15-21

Reflection is based upon today’s lectionary reading Acts 17: 22-31

In our reading from Acts today, Paul is addressing the people of Athens, a city reknowned for its bustling society and it’s love for worshipping many Gods. Paul was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols of worship, including an alter to “an unknown God”. The Greeks had a God for everything; a God of love, a God of war, a God of the sea and the list goes on, including this “unknown God” to cover all bases.

Reflecting upon this, we can certainly draw parallels 2000 years later. We live in a world where we are tempted to idolise many things…money, success, prestige, and our own “unknown gods” that we may not even be aware of. As creations of God, we have an inner sense of needing something higher, a belief that there is more that we cannot attain on our own.

Over the past week, we have seen an easing of the restrictions that have been placed upon us during this time of COVID 19. For the world, this period of isolation has been a reset button with regards to the environment, but it has also been a wonderful reset to so many of us on a personal level as well.

We have learned to reconnect with those that we love and to appreciate the simple things in life that we once took for granted. More importantly for many of us, this time has given us a chance to meet, reconnect or deepen our relationship with God.

As our restrictions begin to ease, and we begin the process of getting busy once again with the busyness of life, let us pause for a moment to reflect on what we can take from our time of isolation and let us remember to keep our eyes focussed on our one and only true God.

Let’s reflect on this with a song by Nichole Nordeman: Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus