Daily Readings - Mon May 27 2019
Acts
11From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis.12From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.13On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.14One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.15When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.
John
1"All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.2They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.3They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.4I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with 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.