Daily Readings - Mon May 15 2023
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 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.