FIRST READING
“He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 11:21b-26; 13.1-3)
In those days: A great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the Church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians. Now in the Church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
The word of the Lord
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 98:1.2-3ab.3cd-4.5-6 (R. 2b)
R/. The Lord has shown his deliverance to the nations
O sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation. R/.
The Lord has made known his salvation,
has shown his deliverance to the nations.
He has remembered his merciful love
and his truth for the house of Israel. R/.
R/. The Lord has shown his deliverance to the nations.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song,
and sing out your praise. R/.
Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn,
raise a shout before the King, the Lord. R/.
ALLELUIA Matthew 28: 19-20
ALLELUIA. Go and make disciples of all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, to the close of the age. ALLELUIA
GOSPEL
“You received without pay, give without pay.”
A reading (rom the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 10:7-13)
At that time: Jesus said to his apostles, “Preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without pay, give without pay. Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the labourer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. As you enter the house, salute it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.”
The Gospel of the Lord
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Barnabas was an important figure in the early church, not because of his power and eloquence, but as the Acts of the Apostles testifies, “he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.” He was a constant companion to Paul in his missionary journeys. “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them,” said the Holy spirit, as they were worshipping the Lord and fasting. The qualities that made Barnabas a powerful influence in the early church are: strong faith, goodness of heart and being filled with the Holy Spirit. He, together with Paul and others were truly living ‘Christ-bearers’ that the followers of Christ, for the first time, were called ‘Christians’. Do we really live and bear witness to Christ so that others may be attracted to become Christ’s followers through our faith?