Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter

First Reading Acts 16:11–15 (NABRE)

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.

Second Reading: Psalm 149:1b–6a, 9b

To execute the judgments decreed for them—

such is the glory of all God’s faithful.

Hallelujah!

Gospel: Gospel John 15:26–16:4a

“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that 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.

How God May Speak to Us

I want you to HEAR that God does speak to us today

Prior to water baptism,God has spoken to us through gift of grace allowing us to be called into His presence.

Post Water Baptism God’s Spirit, the Advocate rests within us to speak to us about the information we have received from the delivery of God’s word.

I want you to FEEL the ability to connect with God

Prior to water baptism we were connected with God by experiencing God’s free gift of grace, either because of our parents, or through our own interaction with God to become the children of God.

After water baptism we are connected to God by the Holy Spirit. With the presence of the Advocate, we can become more attune to the gentle urgings of God and we obtain the ability to feel more connected to God who speaks to us.

I want you to UNDERSTAND that God has rationale for How he speaks to us.

Acts: Paul in Philippi. He and his brothers look for a place to pray. They met Lydia who was a believer and she listened to Paul as he spoke. She opened her heart and she was baptized.

In this episode with Saint Paul and Lydia, we can see the operation of God’s grace preparing the way for Lydia to hear the word of God.

John 15:26-16:4: I will send the advocate, Spirit of Truth will testify to me, and you will testify because you have been with me. I have told you this so you would not fall away. Expulsion from synagogues, they will kill you and think it is a service to God. You needed to know this when the hour happens. I did not tell you earlier because I was with you