Lydia … meet Dolores.
We are a generation of celebrity watchers. Thanks to television, the internet, Twitter and so many other forms of media, we pay attention to the rich and famous.
The subject of today’s first reading would know all about that.
Lydia was woman on the rise.
Although it’s not easy to tell from simply reading Acts 16: 11-15 today, further research shows us that Lydia – who was converted to Christianity by Paul – was not your run-of-the-mill woman in the year 50.
Lydia was a “dealer in purple cloth.” That means she had connections to the rich and famous; the wealthy … anyone with enough money to wear the purple, the color of royalty.
Today, you might draw an analogy of Lydia to that of a designer to the stars of Hollywood; or a public relations spokesman for the rich and famous; or a woman who hobnobs with the rich and famous, becoming rich and famous, herself.
Back then, of course, there was no paparazzi … we only know about Lydia because of the New Testament reading. Today, she is St. Lydia, the “first European convert” to the new religion of Christ.
For those who were witnesses to this, it must have been an incredible thing. Although Lydia was “a worshipper of God” she had not been baptized and was likely one of many who had accepted the teachings of God, even though she was not born into the Jewish faith.
Along comes Paul, who does not aspire to replace the Jewish observance, but rather to fulfill it with the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus.
Lydia had receptive ears.
She and her family were baptized and she opened her home to Paul as he continued his mission.
Had someone been Tweeting that day, it might have been scandalous. Imagine the connections Lydia had. The money she had. The friends in high places, who purchased her purple garments.
It made me think of Dolores Hart who “stunned the world” back in the early 1960s when she walked away from a lucrative and promising career as a Hollywood actress in order to become a Catholic nun.
Dolores was a celebrity. A star.
She was a co-star with Elvis in a 1957 movie called “Loving You.”
But Dolores had a love for something much greater. As did Lydia.
Today, Dolores is known as Mother Dolores Hart of the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Connecticut. Her story has inspired many to follow in her footsteps of faith.
I’m certain Lydia did the same back in the year 50.
After the whispers and rumors died down, it’s not a stretch to believe that many of Lydia’s friends and neighbors followed her into this new Christianity preached by Paul and Timothy.
The Catholic Church’s history is filled with such “high-powered” conversions that seem to “stun the world.” They happen every day, of course – yes, even today! But they are not always publicized.
How wonderful it is, however, when we do hear about such high-profile conversions. Because many times it will at least spark an interest among someone who has no faith, or a little bit of faith or perhaps an inaccurate perception of what Holy Mother Church is all about.
Today … we thank God for Lydia and her witness; and we thank God for Mother Dolores and hers.
Conversion is often a very private thing. And I mean no disrespect for those who convert without fanfare or headlines or Tweets.
But in this age of celebrity watching, it can be heart-warming and inspiring to read about a high profile conversion, knowing that it might have a positive impact in drawing others closer to God.
That is what Paul was doing as he traveled around his world.
And that is what we should be doing as well!
