One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth,
from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened,
and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention
to what Paul was saying.
After she and her household had been baptized,
she offered us an invitation,
“If you consider me a believer in the Lord,
come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us.
(Acts 16:11-15)

God brings us together on the journey of faith placing folks in our lives at just the right moment. What may appear to be pure chance, on deeper reflection reveals a guiding hand at work. Today is the feast of Saint Damien of Molokai, the leper priest who brought new hope to hopeless people.