Daily Readings - Mon May 07 2018
Acts
11So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis,12and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.13And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.14One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.15And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.
John
1"I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.2They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.3And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.4But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with 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.