SATURDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER
Acts 18:23-28
After spending some time there he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately. And when he wished to cross over to Achaia, the believers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had become believers, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Messiah is Jesus.
Psalm 47: 1-2, 7-9
Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy.
For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth.
For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.
God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted.
John 16:23-28
Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.”
(NRSVCE)
Meditation
While many people profess to be Christians, we do not often hear them share their faith with others, or debate morality publicly. Even though many may believe in God, it requires knowledge and boldness to share the Gospel.
In today’s scriptures we see Apollos sharing what he knows of the Gospel and then he is taught more fully by Priscilla and Aquila. Once fully taught, he takes his deeper understanding and does great things with it. He shares it and refutes non-believers publicly with the scriptures. Even though his knowledge was limited, he used it to bring others the truth and God blessed him by increasing his knowledge. In the gospel, Jesus instructs the disciples to ask for things of the Father in his name and tells them that the hour is coming when he will tell them plainly of the Father. He is taking them deeper, not using figures of speech and parables, but being more direct. He is calling them to the next level of understanding.
Even though Apollos did not know everything about the faith, he shared it anyway and God increased him. Even though the disciples did not have the full picture of Jesus’s Resurrection and Ascension into heaven, they followed him anyway. Even though they did not know the Holy Spirit, they obeyed and followed Jesus.
Even though our knowledge and understanding of the faith will always be lacking in something, our gifts may not be seem as great, God is calling us to share them anyway. He is calling us to make his kingdom here on earth no matter where we are in our faith journey or relationship with him. Wherever we are, by sharing our faith and the good news of Jesus Christ, God will bless us, give us greater understanding, increase our gifts, and call us higher.