My brothers and sisters, as we move through the Easter season, the reality of the Christian mission begins to sharpen. We are reminded today...
My brothers and sisters, as we move through the Easter season, the reality of the Christian mission begins to sharpen. We are reminded today that carrying the message of Christ into the world is not always met with open arms.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is incredibly honest with His disciples. He prepares them for Hostility. He tells them, "They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God." Jesus does not sugarcoat the challenges of discipleship. The world can be resistant, stubborn, and outright hostile to the truth of the Gospel. If we try to face this rejection on our own strength, we will quickly burn out. But Jesus promises the Advocate, the Spirit of truth, who will testify on our behalf.
This brings us to a beautiful contrast in our First Reading. While the Gospel warns of closed doors, the Acts of the Apostles shows us the power of an open Heart. Paul arrives in Philippi and sits down to speak with a group of women. Among them is Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth—a successful, busy woman. The scripture says something profound about her: "The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying."
Lydia did not listen with a defensive posture. She allowed the Spirit of truth to bypass any skepticism and directly touch her core. And the immediate result of an opened heart is Hospitality. After she and her household are baptized, she immediately offers her home to the Apostles, saying, "If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home."
This is the cycle of grace we are called into today. The world may offer hostility, but we are asked to cultivate a receptive heart. When we allow the Lord to open our hearts to His word—amidst our busy schedules and daily operations—that grace naturally overflows into hospitality toward others. Today, let us ask the Advocate to soften whatever has become hardened within us, so that our lives may become a welcoming home for the presence of Christ.
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