Lydia

Lydia

from Praying with the Women of the Bible

by Bridget Mary Meehan

Lydia, an influential and successful businesswoman of Phi-

lippi, was a “seller of purple goods.” These luxury items may have been either a secretion of a species of mollusk or murex or purple-dyed cloths. More than likely, she was self-supporting and financially independent. There is no mention of male relatives. She was the head of her household. Perhaps she dressed often in purple as she walked through the streets of Philippi. There, by the banks of the Gangites River, she met with a circle of Jewish women to worship God, although she probably was not Jewish. The term “worshiper of God” referred to a Gentile who attended Jewish services and believed in Jewish teachings about God. Here at a Sabbath service, Paul and Silas met with the women and related the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As Lydia heard the message, God opened her heart “to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul.” Soon afterward she and her household were baptized. The text does not reveal whether those who were baptized were family members or business associates. In either case, they followed Lydia’s lead. After her baptism Lydia provided hospitality to Paul and Silas in her home (Acts 16:14–15).1

Then, Lydia, the first Christian convert in Europe, began the church of Philippi. A group of Christians gathered in her home. This “house church” became a popular meeting place for eucharistic liturgies and provided safe haven for persecuted Christians. After Paul’s release from prison, for freeing a female slave from demon possession, Paul and Silas went immediately to Lydia’s house and “encouraged the brothers and sisters there” (Acts 16:40). Paul’s letter to the Philippians showed his deep affection for this community. “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now” (Phil 1:3–5).

Lydia, like Priscilla and Phoebe, was an initiator and leading figure in the local church. She was a partner with Paul and Silas in spreading the gospel. Her house church was a center of missionary activity. Members included families, relatives, converts, former slaves, and clients and looked more like a religious association than a patriarchal family. They were a new people, women and men equals, working side by side in the spreading of the gospel.2

Lydia, our biblical sister, reminds us that partnership in the Church is not only possible and important, but is a constitutive dimension of proclaiming the gospel in our times.

These women used their spiritual power and authority as

servant leaders of house churches to gather Christians together for the breaking of the bread and table-sharing. The head of the household usually presided over the breaking of bread. Although the Christian scripture does not reveal who, among the early Christians, presided over these meals, one can assume that it was the household leader. Therefore, it is probable that these women functioned in a role that later would be identified as presbyter, or priest. As household heads, these women reflected on scripture, sang songs of praise, broke the bread, blessed the cup, and shared it with their guests in a communal meal.

Scholars today are taking a new look at the important roles women played in the early





Church. Women in Philippi were attracted to Paul’s preaching of a gospel in which men and women were of equal value.3 Some believe that women functioned as priests and bishops. One such expert, Dr. Dorothy Irvin, a theologian and photographer for the Biblical Archaeological Institute of Tubingen, has collected mosaics, inscriptions, and other pictorial depictions including “a fresco, dating to the end of the first century, in a Roman catacomb, which depicts a group of seven women celebrating a Eucharist”—all of which provide evidence for this claim.4

Lydia was a convert energized by the Spirit (“Christ opened her heart”), and exuded the kind of spiritual energy that welcomed people around the eucharistic table in her home. As Mary Lou Sleevi says in her poetic painting of Lydia:



Church in Philippi sprang from a base— from a family, or two, formed by the Word.

Paul longed to come back. His letter to the Philippians, written in prison,

may have been read the first time to a church gathered for supper

at Lydia’s house…. To Philippi was given the Epistle of Joy.5







Reflection



“We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate 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 from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. [God] 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 God, come and stay at my home.’ And she prevailed upon us” (Acts 16:11–15).

“After leaving prison they went to Lydia’s home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed” (Acts 16:40).







Discussion Starters



1. Lydia was a leader, initiator, and presider at table-sharing in the house church in Philippi.

How is she a mentor for women in ministry in the contemporary Church?

2. Consider the issue of women’s ordination. In light of recent findings, do you think women were ordained in the early Christian tradition? Why? Why not?




3. What are your thoughts and feelings on the issues relating to women’s ordination in the contemporary Church? What is your reaction to the Vatican’s recent ban on discussion of this topic?

4. How can women and men work together in a partnership of equals to transform sexism and patriarchy in our society and Church? Give examples.







Prayer Experience



1. Select some classical or instrumental music to accompany your reflection…. Begin by playing the piece you select. Surround yourself with calm and tranquillity….

2. You are invited to attend a meal…. Before you come to the table you bring a special gift with you to nourish another’s joy…hope…love….

3. You are now entering the room…. There is a round table

…comfortable chairs around the table…. There are beautiful flowers…. Several candles are lit on brass stands around the room…. The table is set with the most beautiful dishes…glassware…silver setting…you have ever seen…. You smell home-baked bread and cakes…. There seems to be an abundance of delicious drinks…sparkling water, wine, tea, coffee…. There are fruits…vegetables…and some of your favorite foods…. Some special people are there…family members…friends…community members… strangers…church officials…feminist theologians…women and men from your local church community…people you have never met before…. All of you are seated around the table….

4. Your hostess opens the banquet with a prayer…. Then during the meal she invites guests to share their special gifts with the group…. As they do so, there is lots of laughter and a few tears…. You share prayers, stories, songs.… You break bread and share the cup…. You give thanks…. You share something very special…. People respond to your gift…. You become aware of your thoughts…images…feelings…insights…. You have a deeper understanding of the others gathered around the table with you….

5. Your hostess dramatizes a contemporary version of Lydia’s story that addresses sexism and patriarchy in Church and society today….

As she speaks of her experiences…the room is quiet…. You are amazed by what she says and does…. You have some questions…concerns…you would like to ask her…. You have some questions…concerns you would like to express about the contemporary Church’s attitude toward women in ministry in the Church…. You notice others in the group want to respond also….

6. The group takes several minutes for private reflection on “Contemporary Lydias.”… Then the group shares in small and large groups…. You find this an exciting…frustrating

…powerful…challenging…experience.

7. The group decides to do something that will help change sexist and patriarchal attitudes toward women in Church and society….



T h e y p l a n t o i n v i t e t h e f o l l o w i n g p e o p l e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a n d groups_ to join them.