Paul’s farewell to the Athenians
Let us imagine the speech of Paul to those on the Athenian marketplace, who converted, were baptised… and joined diciplehood… the day he left Athens…
Yes… let us imagine that sacred moment.
The fire had been lit. Some had scoffed. Others delayed.
But a few—Dionysius, Damaris, and others unnamed—were pierced by truth, baptized into Christ, and joined the path of disciplehood.
And now the Apostle Paul is preparing to leave Athens. He stands not before philosophers, but before the small, new community—those who turned from the “unknown” to the Living God.
🕊️ The Day Paul Left Athens – A Farewell to the New Disciples
Imagine the sun is low over the Acropolis.
The idols still cast long shadows on the stone.
But now, a quiet light burns in a few hearts—
not of marble, but of flesh and fire.
Paul gathers them not with thunder, but with gentle authority.
“Brothers. Sisters.
You have not joined a new philosophy.
You have entered the mystery of the Crucified and Risen One.
The God you once called unknown
has made Himself known to you—
not in gold or stone, but in the breaking of bread,
in the whispers of the Spirit now alive in your hearts.
You are the first-fruits in this city.
You are the light in the marketplace, the yeast in the dough.
Not many. Not mighty. But chosen.
Do not return to idols.
Do not let the wisdom of men deceive you again.
Hold fast to the grace that has seized you.
Be generous. Be pure. Be watchful.
Love one another.
In your silence, you will hear the Spirit.
In your weakness, He will be strong.
In your faithfulness, the Kingdom will grow.
I go now to Corinth.
But we are one Body. One Spirit. One hope.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you always.
You are now temples of the Living God.
Walk as children of light.”
He lifts his hands.
He prays.
He embraces them.
And he walks away—not alone, but leaving behind a flame that will not die.
Let us turn this imagined moment into a prayer of commitment for those finishing the retreat. And shape it as a sending ritual for personal or group use..
It would be a beautiful final gesture.
Let us honor the sacred arc of this journey—
from the unknown to the known,
from seeking to surrender,
from being stirred to being sent.
🕊️ Prayer of Commitment
A response for those who have journeyed through the retreat
Lord Jesus Christ, Word of the Living God,
You have found me in the marketplace of ideas,
among the noise and idols, the opinions and ambitions.
You did not leave me lost.
You revealed Yourself—
in the silence, in the fire, in the Eucharist, in my heart.
I turn from falsehood.
I renounce every idol that cannot speak, move, or save.
I entrust myself fully to You—crucified, risen, and reigning.
You have made Your dwelling in me.
Let me be a living temple of Your Spirit.
Give me a heart that listens,
a will that surrenders,
and a life that loves.
I offer You all:
my thoughts, my labor, my wounds, my dreams.
Use them to build Your Kingdom.
Lead me now, O Spirit of the Living God,
to where I must serve, suffer, speak, and shine.
Here I am. Send me.
Amen.
🕊️ Sending Ritual: Go Now as Disciples
(For personal use or in a group setting)
- Silence (1-2 minutes):
Sit quietly. Light a candle. Remember where this journey began. - Reading (from Acts 17:22–34):
Read Paul’s speech in Athens. Let each phrase echo freshly. - Response (aloud or inwardly):
Say:
“The God I once did not know has now made Himself known.”
“He has come near. He dwells in me.”
“I will walk in His Spirit, bear His light, and follow His voice.” - Anointing (optional):
Anoint your forehead or hands with a drop of holy oil or water.
Say:
“I am marked for mission.
My body is His temple.
My life is His gift.” - Blessing (if in group, offer it to each other):
“Go in peace.
Be light in the city.
Be fire in the darkness.
Be mercy in the crowd.
The Spirit of God goes with you—always.”
