Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word Among Us” for Monday, 26 May 2014

Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word Among Us” for 
Monday, 26 May 2014
Meditations: Acts 16:11 Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis; 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.
13 On the Sabbath day we went outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down, and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul. 15 When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay.” So she persuaded us.
Saint Philip Neri, Priest
One of them, a woman named Lydia, … opened her heart. (Acts 16:14)
In today’s reading, Paul journeys to Europe, where he meets a businesswoman named Lydia. And what had begun as a normal day by the river turns into a life-changing spiritual encounter for Lydia and her family. Lydia, a Gentile, was already a worshipper of the God of the Jews, but God had plans for her to know his Son, Jesus, as well. Luke tells us that God opened Lydia’s heart to Paul’s preaching, and she became his first European convert to Christianity (Acts 16:14). From this point on, Lydia’s life would be characterized by a loving, life-giving relationship with Jesus.
This is the very nature of conversion: God touches our hearts and makes us aware of his love, our sinfulness, and our need for his mercy. Such an awareness moves us to turn toward him so that he can begin a process of teaching and empowering us to embrace his goodness and reject the glamour of evil.
While the story of Lydia in Acts is short, we can be sure that it didn’t end where Luke leaves it. Lydia’s conversion not only prompted her to accept baptism; it also moved her to welcome Paul and his companions into her home. Such an act of generosity shows that “conversion urges expression in visible signs, gestures, and works of penance” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1430). It also shows that conversion is not just a one-time event but a lifelong process. It involves continually being open to God and bearing good fruit as we learn to cooperate with his Spirit.
As God continues to help us open our hearts to him, we are transformed bit by bit. The most important changes we experience do not come as a result of big, spectacular events but from the ordinary events of our day. We leave behind the marks of our old life as selfishness gives way to service, wasted time becomes opportunities for prayer, and the approval of God eclipses human praise. So let us keep the doors of our hearts wide open to Jesus so that we can be molded into his beautiful image!
“Father, deepen the conversion of my heart, and let me experience greater intimacy with you. May my experience of your vast love inspire and strengthen me to love and serve people in the name of your only Son, Jesus.” Amen.

Psalm 149:1 Praise Yahweh!
    Sing to Yahweh a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of the saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in him who made them.
    Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his name in the dance!
    Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp!
4 For Yahweh takes pleasure in his people.
    He crowns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the saints rejoice in honor.
    Let them sing for joy on their beds.
6 May the high praises of God be in their mouths,
    and a two-edged sword in their hand;
9 to execute on them the written judgment.
    All his saints have this honor.
Praise Yah!
John 15:26 “When the Counselor[a] has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify about me. 27 You will also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.
16:1 “These things have I spoken to you, so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God. 3 They will do these things[b] because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
Footnotes:
a. John 15:26 Greek Parakletos: Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, and Comforter.
John 16:3 TR adds “to you”
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