Acts 16: 11-15; Psalm 149; John 15: 26-16:4
In the gospel Jesus promises the Advocate or Paraclete, “the spirit of truth who will testify on Jesus’ behalf.” In the first reading we hear of the founding of the church at Philippi, one of Paul’s favorite communities. He looks for a praying community on the Sabbath and instead of finding the ten men needed for a minyan, he discovers Greek women at prayer. They are “worshippers of God,” or “God-fearers,” a name for Greeks who were committed to the Jewish religion. Lydia, a wealthy business woman, listens to Paul and leads her whole household to be baptized. When she offers Paul her home, the church at Philippi is born. Women householders certainly officiated at religious rites in their own homes.
What is the Spirit of truth testifying to us today about the Body of Christ? Pray for healing in our community, but also for justice. “In Christ there is no Jew nor Gentile, no male nor female…all are one” (Gal 3: 28). For 2000 years we have ignored that truth, have exacerbated divisions. Pray too for God’s forgiveness.
Spirit of truth, thank you for bearing witness to these women of Philippi and through the millions of women who have carried the faith to their families and to every part of our world.