27 May 2019 - testify

Today's Readings

(Audio)

and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention
to what Paul was saying.

Lydia experienced what Jesus predicted:

the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father,
he will testify to me.

Paul testified, but the Spirit also testified. This reminds us that whether we are offering the word to others or receiving more of it ourselves we can do neither without the Holy Spirit acting to open hearts. It is both the Spirit and the bride who say, "Come!" (see Revelation 22:17).

Let's begin with ourselves. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to pay attention to what the writers of Scripture are saying to us. Let's ask him to open our hearts as we do spiritual reading and as we listen for the voice of God in prayer. As we go out into the world let us listen for the voice of the Spirit giving us guidance and direction in how to love, in just what among his many fruits would most benefit a given situation. Let us ask him to open our hearts and guide us into the situation where he wants to use us. If we do this, it will make us courageous even if those situations are difficult.

I have told you this so that you may not fall away.
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.

If we begin with our hearts open to what they Holy Spirit testifies we will not fall away in difficult times. We will be more ready to share the truth of the word with others. We won't make the mistake of trying to convince others through crafty arguments much less by shouting down arguments to the contrary. We will pray that God opens the heart of anyone to whom we ourselves testify. We will be ready to give them the fruit of the Spirit that they most need. When we ourselves experience doubts we will know to turn to the Spirit rather than to rely on our own understanding (see Proverbs 3:5).

Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.