LYDIA
“The Lord opened [Lydia’s] heart to accept what Paul was saying.” –Acts 16:14 Mass Readings: May 22 First: Acts 16:11-15; Resp: Psalm 149:1-6,9; Gospel: John 15:26–16:4 Listen to the Mass Readings Lydia was a dealer in purple goods (Acts 16:14). In that day, purple cloth was an expensive item sought by the wealthy. Thus, Lydia was a woman of some means, as she owned a house, dealt with the wealthy, and knew how to operate in the circles of the elite. Lydia was also extraordinarily persuasive. She must have been a great saleswoman, and she “managed to prevail upon” St....