Daily Readings - Mon May 18 2020
Acts
11Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;12And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.13And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.14And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.15And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
John
1These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.3And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.4But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with 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.