Monday of the Sixth Week of Pascal Time [English]

 

the Apostle Paul preaching to St. Lydia and other women on the banks of the Zygaktis river, inside the baptistery of St. Lydia (also called St. Lydia church), located in Krinides

Hospitality of the Heart and the Courage of Truth

Mass Readings: Acts 16:11-15; Psalm 149; John 15:26 – 16:4a

First Point: The Breach of Attention

The account in the Acts of the Apostles takes us with Paul to Macedonia. This is a very important historical moment because we see the Gospel crossing a geographical border, but above all, an inner border. But look at how this happens: it doesn’t happen through a grand gesture or a speech in a prestigious square, but by a river, in a simple place of prayer, speaking to a few women.

And here we meet Lydia. The text tells us she was a dealer in purple cloth. She is an active woman, a woman of decision, a successful woman; but in the midst of her business, she has kept a window open: she is seeking God.

The text tells us something interesting that we should engrave in our memory: "The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying." Here we have the starting point of all Christian life. Often, we think that faith depends on the strength of our will. But in this text, Paul could speak for hours: if the Lord does not open the lock from the inside, nothing happens. Faith is a gift—technically called a theological virtue—an opening that God Himself operates.

Look at the fruit of this opening: Lydia becomes attentive. Attention is the highest form of charity. In a world of distraction, to be attentive to the Word of God is to give Him space. And as soon as her heart is opened, her home opens too. Lydia's hospitality is proof that the Word has borne fruit: she is no longer a lonely orphan in her business; she now belongs to the family of God.

Second Point: Witnessing is Not a Performance

This inner openness prepares us for what Jesus announces in the Gospel: He speaks to us of the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth. He tells us that the Spirit’s mission is to "bear witness to me... and you also are to bear witness." This is vital to understand because we often carry witnessing as a burden, as if we had to convince the whole world with our own arguments. But Jesus tells us that the first witness is the Spirit.

Let it be clear: bearing witness is not about making propaganda, but about letting the Spirit of Truth act within us. It is living in such a way that our very existence poses a question to others. Witnessing is lending your voice and your humanity to this inner Presence.

Jesus links witnessing to the Spirit of Truth because the world often lives in illusion and the lie of self-sufficiency. Truth is not a dictionary of concepts, but the reality of our bond with the Father. The witness we give must be the authenticity of saying: "I am not the master of my existence; I am loved by Another." We are not talking about an idea, but a Person who has transformed us.

Third Point: Not Being Scandalized by Ignorance

In this Gospel, we see how Christ is a realist. He warns us of trials and exclusion so that we are not "scandalized." In the Gospel, "scandal" is the stone that makes us fall—the moment when difficulty makes us doubt God's love. Jesus explains that the world can be violent, not out of pure malice, but out of ignorance: "They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me."

This is a massive key for our relationships. The hatred or contempt we sometimes encounter because of our faith are not signs of the world's strength, but of its profound poverty: they are the cries of orphans who do not know they have a Father. When attacked, our first reflex is to defend ourselves, but if we are inhabited by the Spirit, we understand that we are facing a tragic ignorance.

At the same time, Jesus gives us a remedy: memory. "When the hour comes, you will remember." Spiritual life is a struggle to remember God's promise when everything seems to be falling apart. To remember that Jesus has already conquered is to remain standing. The Holy Spirit refreshes this memory, reminding us that the world cannot tear us away from the Father's love.

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Conclusion and Application for Our Day

Monday's Word invites us to move from tension to openness, realizing that we do not save the world through our own efforts, but by letting the Savior pass through us. To put this into practice:

1. Ask for the grace of attention: In the midst of your busy day, do as Lydia did: ask the Lord to open your mind. Take two minutes of silence to simply be attentive to His presence. Also, be attentive to the "Lydias" you will meet—those waiting for a gesture or a word for their hearts to open.

2. Choose not to be scandalized: If you encounter criticism or injustice today, do not react immediately. Remember that the person hurting you often acts out of ignorance of the Father. Invoke the Advocate and let Him witness through your calm and gentleness.

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Prayer

Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your friendship which never leaves me an orphan. Come today, as You did for Lydia by the river, to open my mind and my heart. Remove the locks of my selfishness and my fears. Make me attentive to Your discreet but real presence in every encounter.

Spirit of Truth, divine Advocate, I abandon myself to Your action. Bear witness in me to the Father's love. When darkness or misunderstanding comes, remind me of Your promises. Do not let me stumble over the scandal of the cross, but give me the strength to stay standing, a serene witness to Your victory.

Father, I entrust to You my day and my home. Make my life a place of hospitality for You and for my brothers and sisters. May I remember that You have chosen me and that You love me, so that I may never again be afraid of the world. Amen.