Daily Readings - Tue Jun 11 2019
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
The readings today remind us of the power of faith, the importance of community, and the call to trust in God’s providence. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community thriving in Antioch, where Barnabas and Saul are called by the Holy Spirit to embark on a mission. This passage highlights the unity and purpose of the Church, as well as the Spirit’s guidance in sending forth missionaries to spread the Good News. The Gospel from Matthew complements this by showing Jesus sending out his disciples to preach and heal, instructing them to trust in God’s provision and not be burdened by material possessions. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on our own call to live with faith, simplicity, and a willingness to serve others.
The context of these readings is rooted in the early days of Christianity, when the Church was growing rapidly and facing new challenges. In Acts, the Church at Antioch represents a moment of transition, as Gentiles (non-Jews) are being welcomed into the faith, and the mission to the wider world is beginning. Matthew’s Gospel, on the other hand, captures Jesus’ instructions to his disciples as he prepares them to continue his work after he is gone. Both readings emphasize the importance of trusting in God’s plan and being open to the Spirit’s leading, even when the path ahead is uncertain.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to live with greater faith and generosity. Like the disciples in Matthew’s Gospel, we are called to step out in trust, knowing that God will provide what we need. This doesn’t mean we should be careless or irresponsible, but rather that we should not let fear or attachment to material things hold us back from serving others and sharing the Good News. Similarly, the example of Barnabas and Saul in Acts encourages us to be open to new opportunities and to work together as a community, supporting one another in our shared mission.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Am I living with the kind of faith and trust that God desires? Am I open to the Spirit’s leading in my life? How can I simplify my life and focus more on serving others and sharing the love of Christ? May we, like the early Christians, be filled with joy, courage, and a resolute heart as we follow the Lord.