purple baptism
a short reflection on emergence of the new
One of my favorite women in the scriptures is Lydia. The book of Acts, chapter 16 relays what happens when the apostle Paul and his companions encounter her:
“On the sabbath day we went outside the gate [of Philippi] by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.’ And she prevailed upon us” (vv. 13–15).
Because she is a dealer in purple cloth, a valuable commodity, she likely has quite a bit of wealth. But more than that, she is an icon of hospitality. She insists that Paul and his friends stay at her home.
Some great themes come together with St. Lydia — baptism, hospitality, and…purple! Today, August 3, is her feast day, and today is also the anniversary of my own baptism. And purple is my favorite color.
On this particular anniversary, my wife Banu and I are seeking direction for the next path in this journey of 2024. Scrolling back through the posts in recent months shows the twists and turns of that journey.
We know many others are approaching key moments in their own lives. May we all join Lydia in the purple path of prosperity.
(Sorry, I couldn’t resist that!)
