Lydia - The Acts 16,9-10.13-15

A vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia [in Europe] and prayed him, saying, Come over into Mecedonia, and help us.

And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. [...Paul and his fellows set over from Asia/today Turkey to Europe/today Greece...]

And on the sabbath we went out of the city of Philippi by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which reorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped to God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

From this biblical word, out of the mission travel report of Paul, I want to pic out three aspects, and three wishes for each of us:

1. I wish us to have the OPEN EARS of Paul to hear the call of God:- I can imagine that Paul is frustrated with his mission work in Asia Minor (the Peninsula, that is today Turkey), because the people didnīt want to listen to him, an he was not successful. So are we sometimes: we donīt know where to start with our plans, there is so much to do and so few success. Also in our church work (especially as women) we have experienced many frustrations.- in this situation it is important to take you time and silence, to be able to listen to the word of God, and to hear what is most important for me now (to have the patience of Paul and open ears in the right time, like Paul who has received the message of God during his rest)- we also need sometimes the courage, to give up old plans, to leave something behind us, to look for new ways like Paul, and to see - amoung all the important tasks - which is the most important task now for me (like Paul knew, that he had to leave Asia Minor behind and follow the voice to Macedonia/Europe). With new emphasis we move on our way to participate in Godīs mission.

2. I wish, that we are able to leave behind us old ways of thinking, like it happens in this mission story:- it reminds us: Europe is not the cradle of christianity. Once the Christian faith came over from Asia to Europe, through Paul, an Asian missionary. Mission and ecumenical learning never has been a one-way-road (also today, in the relation between western and asian churches).- it is not somebody with power or influence that becomes the first Christian in Europe, but a simple (may be middle-class) trading woman: Lydia- also in our churches the women are important in congregation life, often they are the first who aloow God to "open their heart" like Lydia. We are not used to see a woman as model and shining example of faith. Lydia can be one for us: she stands with both feet in real life, but she confess her faith, and through her, her whole family was baptized and blessed. She can be a model for both, men and women.

3. I wish that, in our partnership relations especially as churches, the call "Come over and help us" will always be changed to the call "Come with me", like in this story (and like it is written on this little poster):- Lydia constrained, almost forced the apostels to be guests in her house: "If you accept and judge me now as a true Christian, as sister in faith, then my house, my life, my culture must no longer be strange to you!"- the relation missionary - missioned person changes into an equal one, we become equal brothers and sisters in faith, we invite each other, share material and spiritual gifts. Itīs a pitty that the bible does not write more about what Paul has learned from Lydia, when he was in her house (Only his later letter to the Phillipians shows that he was still very impressed by his time there.- Such developements we have in our congregations, and in the world church. The relation "helper-the one to be helped"changes into a relation of partners in faith and in Godīs mission. Like women in Asia will no longer say to men or to churches in the west "Come over and help us", but, like in this words of an australian aboriginee women:"If you have come to help us, you are wasting your time. But if you have come, because your liberation is bound up with mine, than let us work together." Amen!