Author: admin

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Acts 11: 21-26, 13:1-3

In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he 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 number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.

Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger,
Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend 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, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.

The Word of the Lord.

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Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Barnabas, whose name means, “son of encouragement.”

Interestingly, his birth name isn’t Barnabas, but Joseph. Barnabas receives his new name from the Apostles after proving himself to be a man of deep faith and character.

We first encounter Barnabas in the Acts of the Apostles after he sells a large field of land and gives the proceeds to the Apostles.

But his greatest contribution, which forever changes the direction of the Church, is playing the role of bridge builder between Saint Paul and the Apostles.

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Prior to his conversion, Paul was known for persecuting Christians. He even consented to the death of Saint Stephen, the first known Christian martyr.

But after his dramatic conversion, Paul wanted to join the community of believers. Many were skeptical of his motives; so, he needed someone who could vouch for him. 

That man was Barnabas.

As we heard in our first reading, “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… It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.”

Paul and Barnabas then partnered in ministry, risking their lives by travelling 1,400 miles across Greece and Turkey together.

The fact that Barnabas not only vouched for Paul, but also ministered with him, was a sign that he must’ve loved and forgiven Paul for his past transgressions. He was no longer a threat, but a brother.

In the years thereafter, Paul travelled another 10,000 miles on foot, not including many other days at sea. It’s quite possible that his remarkable ministry would’ve never been considered credible had he not met Barnabas.

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Maybe there’s a word in that for us.

Some people are called to do “great” things for God like Saint Paul did. But Barnabas reminds us that even simplest gestures like welcoming a brother can change the world. 

May we embrace his good spirit and humbly encourage someone else today.

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Image credits: (1) bethanyum.org (2) The Apostles Paul and Barnabas, Nicholaes Berchem, 1650 (3) Good and Godly DNA with LA

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Gospel: Matthew 5: 13-16

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Some early Christians took the promise of the resurrection so seriously, that they developed some odd practices to ensure they were living in accordance with the Gospel.

For example, if someone was expelled from the community of faith for living immorally, or if a person left the faith willingly, before returning to the community, that person would have to lie flat on the floor at the church’s entrance and publicly proclaim: 

“Trample upon me who was the salt which lost its flavor.”

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Such a humbling practice – being stepped on by your peers (and at the entrance of church, nonetheless!) – was derived from Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel. 

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt loses its taste, it is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

Perhaps these Christians took the Gospel too literally, but this exercise certainly makes a point. In the ancient world, salt was not only used as flavoring, but also as a preservative; it kept food from rotting. 

It’s also what faith does for Christians. It gives us meaning; you might say, it “flavors” our life. Without it, life would be bland; dark; and, ultimately, meaningless. 

Faith also preserves our souls from being ruined by sin.  

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In what ways does faith “flavor” my life? How does it season my time, my decisions, and the influence I have on other people?

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“Trample upon me who was the salt who lost its flavor.”

May those words never be spoken of us. 

Be “salty” instead.

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Image credits: (1) Romanita Hairston (2) Group Bible Study (3) Story Jewellery

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Gospel: John 19:25-34

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
            and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
            and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved,
            he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple,
            “Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
After this, aware that everything was now finished,
            in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
            Jesus said, “I thirst.”
There was a vessel filled with common wine.
So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop
            and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
            “It is finished.”
And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Now since it was preparation day,
            in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,
            for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,
            the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken
            and they be taken down.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first
            and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
            they did not break his legs,
            but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,
            and immediately Blood and water flowed out.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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The death of Jesus ushers in the rarest moment in scripture. It’s the only three days in history where God seems totally absent; nowhere to be found. 

As John says in today’s Gospel, “And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.”

Imagine Jesus wrapped in burial cloths, tucked away in a dark and dusty tomb, concealed by a heavy stone.

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In some sense, Mary becomes a unique source of consolation; she is the closest anyone will get to Jesus during those sorrowful days, because she knew him best. Only Mary was with the Lord for all thirty-three years of his earthly life, from the womb to the tomb.

During those hidden years in Nazareth, Mary watched him grow. She learned his habits; marveled at his heart; soaked in his wisdom; studied his mannerisms; and sought to become ever more like her Son.

There she became his first disciple.

If anyone could speak on his behalf during those days of his absence, it’d be Mary, which is why Jesus says to John in today’s Gospel, “Behold, your mother.” 

As the Lord slips into death, Mary will stay and keep watch.

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So, what does this feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, mean for us today?

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She not only offers us the promise of her intercession, she also models for us what a life of complete fidelity to Christ looks like from womb to tomb.

May we, the Church – the body of Christ on earth – continue to learn from her example, who never abandoned the Lord.

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To Mary, we pray:

Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, amen.

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Image credits: (1) Catholic Heart and Mind (2) Christ on the Cross with John and Mary, Marco Pino c 1570 (3) Oblates of St. Joseph