Contemplating today's Gospel
Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)
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 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.
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.
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.
“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead...”
Fr. Jordi POU i Sabater (Sant Jordi Desvalls, Girona, Spain)Today, we celebrate the apostle Joseph, “also named by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”)” (Acts 4:36). He was generous from the beginning: he “sold a piece of property that he owned, then brought the money and put it at the feet of the apostles” (Acts 4:37). He brought St. Paul to the Apostles, who were afraid of him and, with Paul, they opened the apostolate to all peoples. First, in 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” (Acts 11:23-24). His apostolic zeal was an example, as he was putting into practice the Master's commandment: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Mt 10:7).
The Holy Spirit proclaimed: “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2). They went to Cyprus and Asia Minor, and suffered greatly for their Lord. They had differences of opinion and even parted because of Mark, who quit half of the way, and Paul did not accept him on their next journey; but Barnabas knew how to trust Mark and, later on, we will see him as a great collaborator of Peter and Paul.
Let us learn not to classify people into boxes, for “souls, like good wine, improve with time” (St. Josemaria Escrivá), when we support them with our confidence and we love them, for “nobody can be really known unless we love him” (St. Augustine).
When we see somebody weakening or retreating, let us persevere just as Barnabas did, whose namesake also means “brave man”, and “he who encourages and enthuses”. These are characteristics very much in need of today. This is why we turn to the Lord with the words of the Collect prayer: “God our Father, you filled St. Barnabas with faith and the Holy Spirit and sent him to convert the nations. Help us to proclaim the Gospel by word and deed.”
Thoughts on Today's Gospel
“The Lord called his disciples the salt of the earth because they seasoned with heavenly wisdom the hearts of men rendered insipid by the devil.” (Saint Chromatius)
“At the time of the first conversions of the Gentiles, therefore, Barnabas realized that Saul's hour had come. As Paul had retired to his native town of Tarsus, he went there to look for him. Thus, at that important moment, Barnabas, as it were, restored Paul to the Church” (Benedict XVI)
“Do not live entirely isolated, having retreated into yourselves, as if you were already justified, but gather instead to seek the common good together (Ep. Barnabae).” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1905)
