Daily Readings - Mon May 07 2018

¹¹And sailing from Troas, taking a direct path, we arrived at Samothrace, and on the following day, at Neapolis¹²and from there to Philippi, which is the preeminent city in the area of Macedonia, a colony. Now we were in this city some days, conferring together¹³Then, on the Sabbath day, we were walking outside the gate, beside a river, where there seemed to be a prayer gathering. And sitting down, we were speaking with the women who had assembled¹⁴And a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple in the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened. And the Lord opened her heart to be receptive to what Paul was saying¹⁵And when she had been baptized, with her household, she pleaded with us, saying: "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, enter into my house and lodge there." And she convinced us

John

Chapter 15

²⁶But when the Advocate has arrived, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will offer testimony about me²⁷And you shall offer testimony, because you are with me from the beginning.

Chapter 16

¹"These things I have spoken to you, so that you would not stumble²They will put you out of the synagogues. But the hour is coming when everyone who puts you to death will consider that he is offering an excellent service to God³And they will do these things to you because they have not known the Father, nor me⁴But these things I have spoken to you, so that, when the hour for these things will have arrived, you may remember that I told you

Sermon

In today's readings, we journey through two pivotal moments in the spread of Christianity. The first reading from Acts 16:11-15 recounts Paul's arrival in Philippi, where he encounters Lydia, a devout woman whose heart is opened by God to receive his message. This encounter not only marks the beginning of Christianity in Europe but also highlights the transformative power of faith. The second reading, John 15:26-16:4a, finds Jesus preparing his disciples for the challenges ahead, promising the Holy Spirit as their Advocate and warning them of the persecutions they will face. These readings intertwine the themes of evangelization and perseverance in the face of adversity. The context of Acts 16:11-15 is set during Paul's second missionary journey, where he is divinely directed to Philippi. Lydia's conversion exemplifies the Gentile mission, showing that God's plan extends beyond the Jewish community. In John's Gospel, Jesus speaks to his disciples in the Upper Room, comforting them with the promise of the Holy Spirit, who will guide and strengthen them. These passages remind us that the spread of the Gospel is both a divine initiative and a human response, requiring openness and courage. Applying these readings to our lives, we are called to be like Lydia—receptive to God's word and generous in sharing our faith. Just as the Holy Spirit empowered the early Christians, we too can rely on the Spirit's guidance in our own challenges. The moral lesson here is one of trust and courage: trust in God's plan and the Holy Spirit's presence, and courage to witness to Christ despite any trials. Let us embrace our role as modern-day disciples, spreading the Gospel with openness and perseverance, knowing that the Spirit is our ever-present Advocate.