Daily Readings - Thu Jun 11 2020
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 encounter two powerful narratives that guide us in understanding the essence of faith and mission. The first reading from Acts highlights the early Christian community in Antioch, where Barnabas and Saul are set apart by the Holy Spirit for their missionary journey. This passage underscores the Church's growth and the pivotal role of the Holy Spirit in guiding the community's actions. The Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus instructing His disciples to preach, heal, and trust in divine providence, emphasizing a life of simplicity and detachment from material wealth.
Both readings emphasize the Holy Spirit's active role in mission and the importance of trusting in God's providence. In Acts, the Spirit guides the Church in Antioch to recognize and commission Barnabas and Saul for their work. In Matthew, Jesus instructs the disciples to rely on God's provision, teaching them to live simply and generously. This relationship between the readings highlights the consistent theme of trusting God and living selflessly, which is central to the Christian life.
Applying these teachings to our daily lives, we are called to embrace faith and simplicity. We should trust in God's plan and provision, avoiding the temptation to accumulate wealth. Living generously and selflessly allows us to share God's love effectively. The moral lesson here is clear: our faith should lead us to trust in God's providence and live with open hearts, ready to serve and share His love with others.