Daily Readings - Mon Jun 11 2018
Acts
21And the hand of the Lord was with them. And a great number believed and were converted to the Lord22Now the news came to the ears of the Church at Jerusalem about these things, and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch23And when he had arrived there and had seen the grace of God, he was gladdened. And he exhorted them all to continue in the Lord with a resolute heart24For he was a good man, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord25Then Barnabas set out for Tarsus, so that he might seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch26And they were conversing there in the Church for an entire year. And they taught such a great multitude, that it was at Antioch that the disciples were first known by the name of Christian
1Now there were, in the Church at Antioch, prophets and teachers, among whom were Barnabas, and Simon, who was called the Black, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manahen, who was the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul2Now as they were ministering for the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them: "Separate Saul and Barnabas for me, for the work for which I have selected them.3Then, fasting and praying and imposing their hands upon them, they sent them away
Matthew
7And going forth, preach, saying: ‘For the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.8Cure the infirm, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You have received freely, so give freely9Do not choose to possess gold, nor silver, nor money in your belts10nor provisions for the journey, nor two tunics, nor shoes, nor a staff. For the laborer deserves his portion11Now, into whatever city or town you will enter, inquire as to who is worthy within it. And stay there until you depart12Then, when you enter into the house, greet it, saying, ‘Peace to this house.13And if, indeed, that house is worthy, your peace will rest upon it. But if it is not worthy, your peace will return to you
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the profound trust in God's providence that defined the early Christian community and the disciples of Jesus. The first reading from Acts describes how the Church in Antioch, guided by the Holy Spirit, entrusted Barnabas and Saul to their missionary journey. This moment marks the beginning of the Church's expansion beyond Jerusalem, showing how the community, through fasting and prayer, surrendered to God's will. Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus sends out his disciples with a radical simplicity, instructing them to rely not on material possessions but on the hospitality and grace of those they encounter. Both readings emphasize a deep reliance on God and a willingness to step out in faith, trusting that He will provide.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on trust and surrender. In Acts, the Church at Antioch does not hold onto Barnabas and Saul but releases them for the work God has prepared. In Matthew, Jesus calls the disciples to embrace a life of simplicity and dependence on God. This teaches us that our faith is not about control or security but about openness to God's plan. Just as the early Church and the disciples had to let go of their own plans, we too are called to trust in God's providence, even when the path ahead is uncertain.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on where we place our trust. Do we rely on our own strength and resources, or do we surrender to God's plan? The early Christians and the disciples show us that true freedom comes from trusting in God and living with simplicity and openness. Let us ask ourselves: Am I holding onto things that prevent me from fully surrendering to God's will? Let us pray for the courage to trust in His providence, knowing that He will provide us with everything we need to fulfill our mission in life.