How can we approach one another with open hearts and create dialogue that is gentle and fruitful? Here’s today’s reflection from the daily Mass.
Readings for Monday of the 6th week of Easter can be found here
Dialogue between people of different beliefs and ideologies can so often be confrontational rather than engaging. This is particularly true of political debate, but even truer of many of the conversations and debates which happen on social media—which very often begins in an angry way and so can only escalate further.
In the Acts of the Apostles, we meet Lydia, who is colourfully portrayed as a dealer in purple goods, probably selling expensive purple garments to the elite. She was, then, a wealthy businesswoman. Thyatira, the city in Asia Minor from where she came, was famous for its purple dye trade. However, we find her in Philippi in Greece and so she had travelled some way. As she listens to Paul preaching at the riverside, her heart is opened to his words and she becomes the first convert to Christianity on the continent of Europe as Paul and others travel far and wide on their missionary journeys.
We know that Lydia already believed in God but she was willing to listen to what Paul had to say. Her heart was opened. One of the best pieces of advice is often not to talk about politics and religion because it so often leads to arguments. But this doesn’t need to be the case. The problem is not the topic in question but our own disposition. How open are we to listening to one another? How gentle can we be with one another’s beliefs and ideologies? How can we, as Christians, help to create a culture that is less divisive and more engaging?
Mass today is in Ss Dyfrig and Samson at 6.30pm
If you would like more resources for daily prayer, check out our Day By Day pages.
South Cardiff Ministry Area 