Lectionary: 580/361
Reading 1
Acts 11:21b-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.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
R. (see 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Gospel
Matthew 5:17-19
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: HOME ON THE RANGE
"The Holy Spirit spoke to them: 'Set apart Barnabas and Saul for Me to do the work for which I have called them.' " –Acts 13:2
Barnabas was from Cyprus (Acts 4:36). He is the patron saint of Cyprus to the present day. On the first ever Christian missionary journey, Barnabas and Saul first went to Cyprus (Acts 13:4). This is significant. The first mission was not a foreign mission for Barnabas; it meant going home with the Gospel. We likewise are sent on mission beginning right where we are and then to the neighborhood, city, nation, and world (see Acts 1:8). Our first Christian mission is to our spouse, children, co-workers, and the people we see every day. Of course, this is the most difficult mission field. However, charity begins at home, and the love which motivates us to evangelize also begins at home.
Barnabas began his second missionary journey by also going to Cyprus (Acts 15:39). Although the Lord gives us missions beyond our homes, families, and neighborhoods, we continue to go home with the Gospel so that all will be saved (1 Tm 2:4) and go to their final home with the Lord in heaven.
PRAYER: Father, may I be willing to die to lead my family to You.
PROMISE: "As you go, make this announcement: 'The reign of God is at hand!' Cure the sick, raise the dead, heal the leprous, expel demons." –Mt 10:7-8
PRAISE: St. Barnabas twice made missionary journeys to his homeland of Cyprus, evangelizing "the whole island" (Acts 13:6). His love for Jesus and for his homeland resulted in the conversion of the governor of Cyprus (Acts 13:12).
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