Memorial of St. Philip Neri

“If you consider me a believer in the Lord, stay at my house” (Acts 16:15). We have much to learn from Lydia’s story. We met her in the presence of other women gathered outside the city gate, where Paul began to preach. This woman, who knew how to weave fine cloth, allowed the Divine Weaver to draw her into the tapestry of salvation. The Holy Spirit worked in her heart as she listened to Paul’s words. Having plunged into the springs of life-giving water, she became a member of the household of God. Having been remade in the image of God, the God of hospitality, she extended hospitality to Paul and his companions. When Paul accepted her invitation, he fostered a sense of community and strengthened the relationships among the believers.

Hospitality creates an atmosphere of belonging and mutual acceptance. When Paul accepted Lydia’s invitation, he acknowledged her as an equal in the household of God. While Paul preached, he gave Lydia what he had to offer. He accepted what she had to offer when he entered under her roof. In the giving and receiving, hospitality manifests the bonds of love that sustain the Christian community. I am mindful of the “dance” of love (perichoresis) of the Blessed Trinity. It describes the mutual indwelling of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, wherein each person shares the life and being of the others. Having been made in the image and likeness of God, Christians are called to live in a relationship of giving and receiving with one another and the persons of the Blessed Trinity.