Read Fr Joe’s short reflection on today’s First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
St Luke introduces us to Lydia today in our first reading. She was from Thyatira which was formerly part of Ancient Greece but today it is the modern city of Akhisar in south western Turkey. She was in the purple dye trade so most probably a wealthy and influential woman.
Lydia opens her heart to God, in response to the preaching of St Paul. She converts and is baptised and leads all her household to the Lord. Her new and lively faith has a prompt effect, as she becomes achannel of God’s grace to those in her family and community.
St Luke further demonstrates her spirit of generosity and hospitality as she opens her house to St Paul and St Timothy (possibly other companions). This was a charism very evident in the early church but not loston many of us today. We see others reaching out in all sorts of ways to those in need and also those little gestures that say, I am still thinking about you.
“Charity may be a very short word, but with its tremendous meaning of pure love, it sums up man’s entire relation to God and to his neighbour”.
– St Aelred of Rievaulx
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