SAINT ISIDORE (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL)

If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home. 

Lydia must have been a shrewd businesswoman! At a time when there were very few women merchants, she found success in one of the most lucrative and competitive markets: fine fabrics imbued with the hard-to-produce color of royal purple.

As successful as she was in business, Lydia was also a very spiritual person. Though she was a Gentile, she had come to believe in the God of Israel. That’s what drew her to the place of prayer by the river, where she met Paul (Acts 16:13-14). And as she listened to his preaching, the Holy Spirit opened her heart to accept the gospel with joy, passion, and energy.

Conversion changed everything for Lydia. Not only did she request Baptism for herself, but she wanted her entire household to share her new life in the Lord. Then, grateful to the apostles who had brought her the good news, she urged Paul and his companions to stay in her home. That way, she could use her practical skills to provide for their needs. She was such a good salesperson that they couldn’t say no!

Of course, much more went on in Lydia’s house than sharing meals. Paul taught Lydia and her household about Jesus and his salvation. He prayed with them. And with Lydia’s help, he turned her home into a kind of base of operations for his ministry to the people of Philippi.

What a wonderful work the Holy Spirit did through Lydia! He built on her previous experience and natural gifts and brought forth something new and vibrant. Through her generosity, the gospel kept advancing, and the Church was built up in Greece and beyond.

That’s what faith does: it moves outward. God touches our lives, and it has a ripple effect far beyond ourselves. So let your faith move you to action today. Let your gratitude for all the ways God has worked in your life propel you to find ways to share the good news. Then watch to see how God takes your response and extends its effect beyond your expectations!

“Holy Spirit, guide me as I respond to the gift of faith.”

Acts 16:11-15
Psalm 149:1-6, 9
John 15:26–16:4