Everyone and anyone must be accorded the same privilege of the good news of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. It is the Lord Himself who can open the heart of those listening to receive and accept His word. For our part we are simply called to live in the Spirit so as to share the spirit of truth who will bear witness to our loving saviour.
For as many hearts are converted to our Lord, we must be prepared that double or triple that number will reject the message of love. Still every soul is precious in His eyes, and so we must endeavour to touch as many lives as we can on our pilgrim journey back to Him.Come Holy Spirit dwell in my heart, let the fire of my Lord’s love consume me that I may be a powerful instrument of His grace. Amen
First reading
Acts 16:11-15 ·
The Lord opened Lydia’s heart to accept what Paul was sayingSailing from Troas we made a straight run for Samothrace; the next day for Neapolis, and from there for Philippi, a Roman colony and the principal city of that particular district of Macedonia. After a few days in this city we went along the river outside the gates as it was the sabbath and this was a customary place for prayer. We sat down and preached to the women who had come to the meeting. One of these women was called Lydia, a devout woman from the town of Thyatira who was in the purple-dye trade. She listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying. After she and her household had been baptised she sent us an invitation: ‘If you really think me a true believer in the Lord,’ she said ‘come and stay with us’; and she would take no refusal.
Gospel
John 15:26-16:4
The Spirit of truth will be my witnessJesus said to his disciples:‘When the Advocate comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness. And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the outset.‘I have told you all this that your faith may not be shaken.
They will expel you from the synagogues,
and indeed the hour is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is doing a holy duty for God.
They will do these things because they have never known either the Father or myself.
But I have told you all this, so that when the time for it comes you may remember that I told you.’
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