Daily Readings - Mon May 18 2020
Acts
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
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 grace. The first reading from Acts tells the story of Lydia, a wealthy merchant from Thyatira, who becomes one of the first converts to Christianity in Europe. Paul and his companions arrive in Philippi, and on the Sabbath, they encounter Lydia by the river, where she is gathered with other women for prayer. The Lord opens her heart to Paul’s preaching, and she, along with her household, is baptized. This moment marks the beginning of the Church’s expansion into Europe, showing how the Holy Spirit works through ordinary people in extraordinary ways.
The Gospel reading from John takes us to Jesus’ farewell discourse, where He prepares His disciples for the challenges they will face after His departure. Jesus speaks of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will come to testify about Him and guide the disciples in their mission. He warns them that they will face persecution and expulsion from the synagogues, but He reassures them that the Spirit will give them the strength to endure. These words remind us that following Christ is not without cost, but with the Spirit’s help, we can remain faithful even in the face of adversity.
Both readings highlight the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and in our personal lives. In Acts, the Spirit opens Lydia’s heart to receive the Gospel, while in John, the Spirit is promised as a guide and defender for the disciples. These passages remind us that our faith is not just a human effort but is sustained by the divine presence of the Spirit. As we go about our daily lives, we are called to remain open to the Spirit’s prompting, just like Lydia, and to trust in His strength when we face challenges. Let us pray for the courage to bear witness to Christ, knowing that the Spirit is always with us, guiding and sustaining us on our journey of faith.