FIRST READING
“The Lord opened her heart to listen to what was said by Paul.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 16:11-15)
Setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the leading city of the district of Macedonia, and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days; and on the sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to listen to what was said by Paul. And when she was baptised, with her household, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 149: 1bc-2.3-4.5-6a and 9bc (R. 4‹i)
R/. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Or: Alleluia.
Sing a new song to the Lord,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its Maker;
let Sion’s children exult in their king. R/.
Let them praise his name with dancing,
and make music with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes delight in his people;
he crowns the poor with salvation. R/.
R/. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Or: Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory,
and rejoice as they take their rest.
Let the praise of God be in their mouths.
This is an honour for all his faithful. R/.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia. The Spirit of truth will bear witness to me, says the Lord; and you also are witnesses. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“The Spirit of truth will bear witness to me.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 15:26-16:4a)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “When the Counsellor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning. I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you of them.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
The Holy Spirit witnesses with us. He opens the hearts of people to accept the message of Christ. Lydia’s heart was opened to accept the message of Christ. We witness with our words and deeds. The Holy Spirit witnesses with us by opening the hearts of those who listen to us, or meet us. We can witness by the way people see us handle our suffering. We can witness by giving someone a copy of the bible, texting someone a verse of the scripture, praying with someone, giving a helping hand, consoling someone in pain and visiting someone who is lonely. Be a witness.