Daily Readings - Mon May 15 2023

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 revelation. The first reading from Acts tells the story of Lydia, a merchant of purple cloth, who opens her heart to the message of Paul and becomes one of the first converts in Philippi. Her responsiveness to the Word and her generosity in welcoming Paul and his companions into her home exemplify the fruits of openness to the Holy Spirit. The Gospel from John, on the other hand, shifts our focus to Jesus’ promise of the Advocate, the Spirit of truth, who will guide and strengthen the disciples in the face of persecution. Jesus warns them that following Him will lead to challenges, but He assures them that the Spirit will remain with them to offer testimony and truth. These readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In Acts, the Spirit opens Lydia’s heart to receive the Gospel, while in John, Jesus promises the Spirit as a source of strength and guidance for those who will face opposition. Both passages remind us that our faith is not a solitary journey but one that is accompanied by the divine presence of the Spirit. Just as Lydia was receptive to the Word, we are called to remain open to the Spirit’s prompting in our lives, even when it leads us into uncertain or challenging situations. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we as open to the Spirit as Lydia was? Do we trust in the Spirit’s guidance, especially when we face trials or misunderstandings? In a world that often pressures us to conform to its values, we are reminded that our ultimate allegiance is to Christ. Like the early disciples, we are called to bear witness to the truth, even when it is difficult. May we, like Lydia, welcome the Spirit into our homes and hearts, and may we, like the disciples, find courage in the Spirit’s presence to live out our faith with integrity and love.