Daily Readings - Mon May 27 2019

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 encounter two powerful moments of faith and mission. The first reading from Acts describes Paul’s journey to Philippi, where he meets Lydia, a devout woman whose heart is opened by God to receive the Gospel. This encounter leads to her baptism and the beginning of a thriving Christian community. The Gospel, from John, shifts our focus to Jesus’ promise of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will testify to the truth of Jesus’ mission. Jesus also warns His disciples of the persecution they will face but assures them that the Spirit will guide and strengthen them in their witness. The context of these readings is deeply rooted in the early Christian experience. In Acts, we see the Church expanding beyond Jerusalem, reaching Gentiles like Lydia, who becomes a symbol of openness to God’s grace. Her hospitality and faith exemplify the kind of community the early Church sought to build. In John’s Gospel, Jesus prepares His disciples for a world that will reject them, but He promises the Holy Spirit as their helper and guide. This promise is not just for the disciples but for all believers, reminding us that we are never alone in living out our faith. These readings are connected by the theme of witnessing to the truth of God’s love. In Acts, Lydia’s conversion and hospitality bear witness to the transformative power of the Gospel. In John, the Holy Spirit is the ultimate witness to Jesus, enabling believers to endure trials and remain faithful. Together, these readings call us to be open to the Spirit’s guidance, to trust in God’s providence, and to live with courage and hospitality, even in the face of challenges. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we open to the Spirit’s prompting in our lives? Do we trust in God’s plan, even when the path is uncertain? How can we, like Lydia, welcome others into our lives and share the Good News with generosity and joy? May we embrace the Spirit’s gift of courage and truth, and may our lives bear witness to the love of Christ in all we do.