Daily Readings - Tue Jun 11 2024
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 early Christian Church’s vibrant faith and missionary spirit. The First Reading from Acts describes how the Church in Antioch thrived under the guidance of Barnabas and Saul, who were called by the Holy Spirit to embark on a great mission. This passage highlights the importance of trusting in God’s providence and being open to the Spirit’s guidance. The Gospel from Matthew, on the other hand, captures Jesus’ instructions to His disciples as He sends them out to preach and heal. He emphasizes simplicity and detachment from material possessions, urging them to rely on the generosity of others and to trust that their needs will be met.
Both readings underscore the theme of radical trust in God and living with simplicity. In Acts, the early Christians at Antioch were so filled with the Holy Spirit that they were able to let go of their own plans and follow God’s call. Similarly, in Matthew, Jesus teaches His disciples to embrace a life of detachment, not just from material goods but also from the desire for comfort and security. This teaches us that true freedom comes from relying on God and not on ourselves or our possessions.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Am I living with the kind of trust and simplicity that God calls me to? Am I open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in my life, even when it challenges my plans? Let us pray for the grace to let go of our attachments and to follow God’s will with courage and faith. May we, like the early Christians, be witnesses of God’s love and mercy in the world today.