The Lord delight in His people

Acts 16:11-15, Jn 15:26-16:4. Three points leap out from today’s readings: The fact that the Lord takes delight in us as the responsorial Psalm assures us. In today's Gospel, Jesus promises us that at moments of special need we can rely on the great “Helper,” the Holy Spirit. While today's first reading presents us with the interaction of Paul and Lydia that shows how God blesses and helps us through others. After sailing over to Europe, Paul began a new phase of his work. Before making this move, he had been pursued by opponents who challenged his credentials as an Apostle and rejected his view of what Jesus meant. In northern Greece, he began a more peaceful phase of his ministry, beginning in the civilised city of Philippi. There Paul had good fortune to meet a kindly and wealthy businesswoman named Lydia, who quickly accepted the faith and wanted to give to the missionaries whatever support she could.

We have been graced in various ways in our lives. The proper response to being graced is to grace others in return, to share our blessings with them. We have received much, we should give much in return. Lydia illustrates this spirit of giving by her hospitality to Paul. We are expected to uphold a communal lifestyle of mutual care and regard. Appreciating what others do for us, we are led by a kind of noble obligation to find ways of reciprocating. The fire of the Holy Spirit is around us; He comes to urge us on, so that our lives keep bearing witness to the risen Christ, in season and out of season. We keep building up our closeness to the Spirit of God by calling upon Him to grant us the boldness, without postponement, of preaching the word of the Lord always.

May the Lord strengthen our faith, raise our hope and bring healing to the world! Amen!! Keep safe and have a glorious week!!!