“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.” Matt 10:40-41
First of all how many of us having the word preached to us like Lydia, would have their hearts set ablaze by the Holy Spirit and thereafter extend the love of a disciple of Christ to the her fellow sister or brother in Him? She welcomed the prophet and I am sure she received a prophet’s reward but most importantly she received Christ Himself into her heart and into her home.
Are we then hospitality ministers in name or do is our love put into action? This would apply to whatever ministry we serve or capacity we do so for Christ Jesus our Lord!
O Spirit of truth come filled my heart, let me be a witness to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen Alleluia
________
First reading
Acts 16:11-15 ·
The Lord opened Lydia’s heart to accept what Paul was saying
Sailing 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 witness
Jesus 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.’
CatholicJules.net 