Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter
(Acts 16:11-15; John 15:26-16:4a)
Today’s first reading relates a milestone event in Christianity. The gospel arrives in Europe, at least in the
purview of the New Testament. Paul and
companions have crossed the Hellespont from what is now Turkey to Greece. But before Paul directs his mission primarily
to pagans, he looks for Jews who might be interested in hearing his message.
It does not take long to find them.
A group of women who are Jews or Jewish aspirants gather by the river where
they can practice purification rituals.
They readily accept Paul’s teaching and are baptized in the same
purifying water. One woman, Lydia,
stands out among the rest. She is
evidently a successful businesswoman and not shy to converse with the learned
evangelist. Perhaps to ascertain more
about Jesus and the Christian community, Lydia insists that Paul and company
stay at her house.
We are told today that our culture has to be re-evangelized. Just because people have been baptized (and
sometimes even go to church) does not mean that they live the faith. We should not hesitate to tell others of how our
faith in Jesus has affected our lives.
Nor should we leave out how the sacraments have given us a sense of his
spiritual presence.
