Reading 1
Acts 16:11-15
We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace,
and on the next day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi,
a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony.
We spent some time in that city.
On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river
where we thought there would be a place of prayer.
We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there.
One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth,
from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened,
and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention
to what Paul was saying.
After she and her household had been baptized,
she offered us an invitation,
“If you consider me a believer in the Lord,
come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us.
Gospel
Jn 15:26—16:4a
Jesus said to his disciples:
“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father,
he will testify to me.
And you also testify,
because you have been with me from the beginning.
“I have told you this so that you may not fall away.
They will expel you from the synagogues;
in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you
will think he is offering worship to God.
They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.
I have told you this so that when their hour comes
you may remember that I told you.”
Meditation: Acts 16:11-15
The Lord opened her heart to pay attention. (Acts 16:14)
What exactly do we know about Lydia? We know she was a successful business woman. We know she was a Gentile who participated in Jewish worship services. We know, too, that through Paul she was converted to Christ and was baptized into the church. Lydia’s was the first recorded conversion in all of Europe! Finally, we know that Lydia was so moved by her newfound relationship with Christ that she opened her home to Paul and his companions while they continued to preach in the city of Philippi.
But that’s all we know. After these few short verses, Lydia disappears from the scene altogether; we never hear about her again. So what happened to her? Lydia probably continued to work at her business and tend to her family as before—but it’s likely that she also shared the story of her conversion with her business associates and friends. She had her own network of relationships, and she probably used that network to build up the church.
What is your story going to be? Everyone is so busy with their everyday lives, but at the same time each of us can bring people to Jesus just by being a friendly neighbor, a helpful co-worker, or a loving and forgiving friend. Sometimes the smallest of gestures can have the biggest impact, like picking up the phone and letting someone know you’ve been thinking of them or inviting the new family on the block over for dinner. Gestures like these can open up a world of opportunities for fellowship and sharing.
In a sense, Lydia is more of a role model for us than St. Paul. Very few of us will ever be in the limelight. Our stories will never be written down and preserved for centuries. But like Lydia, we can all play an important role in the kingdom of God just by looking for the opportunities that are right here in our home and community. All we need to do is keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, and we will begin to notice how many ways we can share his gospel. And the best part is, God will give us a double portion of grace as we do.
“Father, help me to see the opportunities you give me to share your good news. I want to be a humble yet powerful witness to your love.”
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