Daily Readings - Mon May 10 2021
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
The first reading from Acts tells the story of Paul and Silas arriving in Philippi, where they encounter Lydia, a devout woman who listens to their message with an open heart. Through her, the Gospel takes root in Europe, and her household becomes the first Christian community in that region. This passage highlights the power of faith and the unexpected ways God can open hearts to His truth. The second reading from John’s Gospel finds Jesus preparing His disciples for the challenges they will face after His departure. He speaks of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will strengthen them and bear witness to His truth. Jesus also warns them of persecution but assures them that these trials are part of the journey of following Him.
Both readings emphasize the themes of faith, openness to the Spirit, and perseverance in the face of adversity. In Acts, Lydia’s conversion shows how God can use ordinary people in extraordinary ways when they are receptive to His word. In John’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that living as His disciples will not always be easy, but the Spirit will guide and sustain us. Together, these readings remind us that our faith is not just a private matter but a call to live courageously and share the Good News with others, even when it comes at a cost.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own openness to the Holy Spirit and our willingness to trust in God’s plan, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. Like Lydia, we are called to respond generously to God’s grace and to create spaces where others can encounter His love. And like the disciples, we are reminded that our faith will be tested, but we are not alone—God’s Spirit is always with us, guiding us and giving us the strength to persevere. Let us ask for the grace to remain steadfast in our commitment to Christ and to bear witness to His truth in all we do.