The Spirit will lead us to the whole truth (Wednesday, Easter 6, 2021)

The cerebral cortex is the part of the brain that is responsible for higher brain functions (such as solving advanced arithmetical problems, making sense of abstract ideas, etc). The cerebral cortex of a child is not so elastic as to adequately analyze, synthesize and assimilate higher brain processes. And that is why instructors employ more of visual aids in educating children. The visual aids make things easier for them to understand.

 

As St Paul continued with his missionary, he found himself in Beroea where he was fiercely opposed by the Jews; and quickly he escaped to a Greek city called Athens. Athens was the home of philosophers and the hub of the European intellectual history. Amongst other things, Athenians strongly believed that life ultimately ends at death. Athens was also a city of many gods. In Athens, it was easier to meet a statue of a god than to meet a human being. Shrines were littered everywhere.

 

All in all, Athenians were a people steeped in philosophy and idolatry. So, presenting the gospel message to their taste must have been a herculean task. Just like children, the cerebral cortex of their understanding as it relates to the Christian faith, was not as elastic as to assimilate the things of the Spirit. And that is why Paul employed the visual aid of teaching with the statutes of their unknown gods to help them understand that there is a God which they have not yet known; and that it was the message of that God that he came to preach. This illustration must have captured their attention. Of course, this initial excitement was short-lived.

As hinted already, Athenians believed that life absolutely ends at death. Because of such belief, the they didn’t make sense of the reality of the resurrection. When Paul began to talk about the resurrection, they laughed at him and told him that they would hear him again. But he was able to make few converts for Christ. He never gave up because of the people’s mockery or their inability to understand some of his teachings.

 

In the school of faith, we are like children or like the Athenians (cf. Acts 17:32). Sometimes, we find it difficult to understand physical realities not to talk of making sense of the spiritual. Sometimes, certain things are way difficult for us to understand. But the Holy Spirit remains our unfailing Helper. Jn. 16:13 says that when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide all people to all the truth. We don’t have to give up just because we fail to grasp certain realities about life or faith. Let's be patient. Let's always seek the face of the Helper, the Spirit of Truth. He will do the rest.

Prayer:

When certain things become too difficult for us to grasp, may the Spirit of Truth continue to lead us to all the truth, Amen!

Have a blessed day!