Spirit moves and there is a reaction

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today speak of the change which exposure to the intimate presence of the Divine brings. John tells how Jesus advises His disciples that when He has gone, those who have not responded to the call of the Father through Jesus will persecute and put the disciples out of the synagogue. The psalmist praises the goodness of God to Israel. There is a hint that some have been enemies of Israel and the psalmist celebrates the judgment of God on them. When the indwelling Spirit is on the move, there are some who do not respond. A reaction to change can be to fight fiercely to hold to the present understanding and even to see the new movement as threatening. The dealer in the purple cloth, Lydia, is moved by the Spirit present in Paul and his followers to be baptized as a follower of the Way. The Way will endure the persecution of religious and secular forces and grow during this time.