10TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Barnabas, Apostle
Psalter: Proper / (Red)
Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
The Lord has revealed to the nations
his saving power.
1st Reading: Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3
The hand of the Lord was with them so that a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
News of this reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the manifest signs of God’s favor, he rejoiced and urged them all to remain firmly faithful to the Lord; for he, himself, was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. Thus large crowds came to know the Lord.
Then Barnabas went off to Tarsus, to look for Saul; and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they had meetings with the Church and instructed many people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
There were at Antioch — in the Church which was there — prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon known as Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod, and Saul. On one occasion, while they were celebrating the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have called them.” So, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Gospel: Mt 10:7-13
Go, and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. Freely have you received, freely give. Do not carry any gold or silver or money in your purses. Do not take a traveling bag, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or a walking stick: workers deserve to be compensated.
When you come to a town or a village, look for a worthy person, and stay there until you leave.
When you enter the house, wish it peace. If the people are worthy people, your peace will rest on them; if they are not worthy people, your blessing will come back to you.
Reflections
Heal the sick,
bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers,
and drive out demons
How can Jesus call the poor and the persecuted blessed? Certainly God does not desire us to suffer. Neither does Jesus glorify or romanticize suffering.
Suffering is not a virtue. But paradoxically, suffering can evoke virtues. Who has not been moved by the faith and resiliency of a loved one battling a terminal illness? While God does not delight in the suffering on our loved one and, out of love, suffers the pain of one of his children, our Lord delights in the virtues that have been brought forth by suffering. Blessed are those who embrace suffering valiantly and virtuously.
Daily Reflection 2018
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
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