First Reading: (Acts 16:11–15)
Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 149)
Response: The Lord takes delight in His people.
Gospel: (John 15:26—16:4)
Reflection
God is always ready for us. That is why based on scriptures, when we listen attentively, truly, and readily open our hearts to the Word of God, something positive must happen in our lives. We experience a real change.
When we allow ourselves to be molded and prompted by the Holy Spirit, He transforms us. We cannot truly listen to God’s Word and remain the same. If nothing changes, then perhaps we did not truly listen, or we refused to allow the Holy Spirit to work within us.
How can God speak to us, yet we still keep hatred, anger, selfishness, greed, and unforgiveness in our hearts? Was it truly God who spoke to us, or did we refuse to listen? Did we refuse to allow ourselves to be transformed?
At every Holy Mass, before the Gospel is proclaimed, we make three signs of the cross: on the forehead, on the lips, and on the chest. We pray that we may understand the Word with our minds, proclaim it with our lips, and keep it in our hearts.
My friends, if God’s Word truly enters our hearts, we cannot remain the same.
We hear beautiful homilies on Sunday and week days, encouraging us to forgive, to let go, to love one another and even our enemies. Yet many times, we remain blocked. We resist God’s touch. We refuse to let the Holy Spirit transform us.
God’s Word must challenge us to ask: “What must I do after listening to this?” It must lead us toward good action.
In today’s first reading, we encounter Lydia, a wealthy seller of purple goods from Thyatira. She listened attentively to the Word of God and allowed herself to be transformed by the Holy Spirit. She and her household were baptized, showing that their hearts had truly opened to God.
But she did not stop there. She invited the apostles into her home. She desired to do more good. She made herself available for God’s work.
This reminds us of the invitation during the Holy Mass:
“The Lord be with you.”
“And with your spirit.”
“Lift up your hearts.”
“We lift them up to the Lord.”
If we truly lift up our hearts to the Lord, then the Word of God we hear every day must bear fruit in our lives.
So today, let us examine ourselves honestly.
Have we forgiven the person we struggled to forgive?
Have we shown charity, even toward those who hurt us?
Or do we still hold on to hatred and anger?
Do we gossip and destroy the names of others?
Do we delight in evil?
If so, then what effect is God’s Word having in our lives?
Lydia teaches us today that when we truly listen and open our hearts, the Holy Spirit transforms us, and that transformation becomes visible in our actions.
Let us not allow God’s Word to be wasted. Let it produce a positive effect in our lives.
May the Holy Spirit transform us so that the Word we hear each day may bear lasting fruit in our hearts and actions. Amen.
God bless and have a wonderful day.
Have a wonderful week.
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