The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to discern the prompting of the Spirit that leads us to live in Jesus' Way and reject the historical and societal leaning to action that is contrary to the Will of God.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells of the Spirit leading Paul Into Europe and the conversion of Lydia.
* [16:10–17] This is the first of the so-called “we-sections” in Acts, where Luke writes as one of Paul’s companions. The other passages are Acts 20:5–15; 21:1–18; 27:1–28:16. Scholars debate whether Luke may not have used the first person plural simply as a literary device to lend color to the narrative. The realism of the narrative, however, lends weight to the argument that the “we” includes Luke or another companion of Paul whose data Luke used as a source. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)
Psalm 149 offers praise for God’s Goodness to Israel.
* [Psalm 149] A hymn inviting the people of Israel to celebrate their God in song and festive dance (Ps 149:1–3, 5) because God has chosen them and given them victory (Ps 149:4). The exodus and conquest are the defining acts of Israel; the people must be ready to do again those acts in the future at the divine command (Ps 149:6–9). (Psalms, PSALM 149, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares the Work of the Spirit as our guide and support.
* [15:26] Whom I will send: in Jn 14:16, 26, the Paraclete is to be sent by the Father, at the request of Jesus. Here the Spirit comes from both Jesus and the Father in mission; there is no reference here to the eternal procession of the Spirit. (John, CHAPTER 15, n.d.)
Nancy Shirley comments that in some of the passages preceding this reading, Paul is directed in several different ways and guided to this particular town. Clearly, destiny (AKA God’s plan) is to connect Lydia and Paul. He finds her with a group of women worshipping – God’s plan unfolds as He opens her heart to Paul’s teachings. No coincidence that all came to together or that she immediately seeks Baptism for herself and her entire household. Her status and wealth put her in a unique position to support the Church in Philippe – she embraces that opportunity with her whole heart and soul.
When I was working with Ignatian Spirituality Project and retreats for homeless women in recovery, I loved referring to the lessons from the women in the bible including Lydia. The author (whose name is escaping me right now) spoke of how women supported each other at the foot of the cross and now support each other in the various crossroads of life. We walk the rutted roads together – cry together, laugh together, pray together. She said we bind ourselves together not as prisoners but rather as kindred climbers there to pull each other up, support, and encourage the ascent to better things. Lydia provides a role model for us all (men and women) to keep our hearts open. So often that is my prayer – not for this or that material thing or even conclusions – rather prayers to keep my heart open. Open to hear the message – will it be in a reading? An interaction with a colleague or even a stranger? A sunrise or a rainbow? Or in responses from readers who send back such wonderful messages to my angst in reflections that my heart is renewed? God speaks in so many ways – I have yet to hear a burning bush, yet the whispers of hope and guidance are all around me – I just need to open my eyes and heart. (Shirley, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The Comforter is with us in our troubles,” by Cyril of Jerusalem, 430-543 A.D.
"He is called the Comforter because he comforts and encourages us and helps our infirmities. We do not know what we should pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us, with groanings that cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26), that is, he makes intercession to God. Very often, someone has been outraged and dishonored unjustly for the sake of Christ. Martyrdom is at hand; tortures on every side, and fire, and sword, and savage beasts and the pit. But the Holy Spirit softly whispers to him, 'Wait on the Lord' (Psalm 27:14). What is now happening to you is a small matter; the reward will be great. Suffer a little while, and you will be with angels forever. 'The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that shall be revealed in us' (Romans 8:18). He portrays to the person the kingdom of heaven. He gives him a glimpse of the paradise of delight." (excerpt from CATECHETICAL LECTURES 16.20) (The Comforter Is With Us in Our Troubles, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 16:11-15 shares that It certainly seems that Lydia was the right person in the right place at the right time. But Paul and Lydia weren’t puppets with God pulling the strings. In fact, it would have been easy for either of them not to respond to God’s promptings. Paul, for instance, could have decided that his dream was just a dream and kept trying to go to Asia. Lydia could have just listened politely to Paul and brushed him off with a polite “I’ll think about it.” But that’s not what happened. They listened and tried to follow where God was leading.
God’s will may not always be clear to you. But that doesn’t mean that you should put off acting on where you think he wants you to go. When you take a step of faith, as Paul and Lydia did, God can accomplish great things through you! And if you’re not on the right path, he’ll find a way to redirect you. A job that doesn’t work out, for example, might lead you to find another position that is better for you. Roadblocks and uncertainty can be frustrating, but they can also be opportunities for you to become more reliant on the Lord. They can teach you to yield to the Spirit and face the unknown with greater confidence and trust that God’s plan for you is the best one. “Jesus, help me to put my faith in action by trusting in you.” (Meditation on Acts 16:11-15, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the action of the Spirit drawing Paul to Phillippi and his conversion of the wealthy household of Lydia. The home Church, as offered by Lydia, was a gathering of 10-20 believers in a space large enough to accommodate them. Friar Jude refers to the synagogue of Satan in Revelation as He describes the rejection of Jesus as the messenger of Yahweh.
Brian McLaren has long asked questions out loud that many have often asked only to themselves. In his new book Do I Stay Christian?, Brian outlines compelling reasons both to leave and stay within Christianity. Today we share his critique of Christianity’s complicity with violence. Such truth-telling can be difficult to read. We invite you to practice the contemplative stance of “holding the tension of opposites”.
Today, abuse of Christians by Christians tends to be more emotional and spiritual than physical. But shunning and disowning (forms of relational banishment), public shaming and character assassination, private humiliations, church trials of nonconformists, blacklisting, and other forms of Christian-on-Christian cruelty continue, and more and more traumatized people are coming forward with their stories. . . . To state the obvious: Jesus never tortured or killed or ruined the life of anyone, but the same cannot be said for the religion that claims to follow him. Knowing what I now know, if I were not already a Christian, I would hesitate in becoming one, at least until the religion in all its major forms offers a fearless, searching, public moral accounting for its past crimes . . . first, against Jews, and also against its own nonconformist members. (Christianity's Violence Problem — Center for Action and Contemplation, 2022)
The Church is in tension between support and opposition historically and in our time. We seek the guidance of the Spirit to navigate our journey as followers of Christ.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 23, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/16?11
Christianity's Violence Problem — Center for Action and Contemplation. (2022, May 23). Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 23, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/christianitys-violence-problem-2022-05-23/
The Comforter is with us in our troubles. (n.d.). Cambridge Dictionary | English Dictionary, Translations & Thesaurus. Retrieved May 23, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=may23
John, CHAPTER 15. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 23, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15
Meditation on Acts 16:11-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 23, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/05/23/387472/
Psalms, PSALM 149. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 23, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/149?1
Shirley, N. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 23, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/052322.html
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