Daily Readings - Wed Jun 11 2025
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 power of faith and the call to live generously. The first reading from Acts describes the early Christian community in Antioch, where the Church was growing rapidly. Barnabas and Saul, guided by the Holy Spirit, were sent out on a mission, trusting in God’s providence. This passage highlights the importance of community, discernment, and obedience to the Spirit. The Gospel from Matthew continues this theme as Jesus instructs his disciples to preach, heal, and trust in God’s provision, emphasizing that those who labor for the kingdom will be sustained.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own trust in God and our willingness to live simply and generously. In Acts, the Church at Antioch was filled with joy and faith, and they shared their resources freely. Similarly, in Matthew, Jesus calls us to let go of material concerns and focus on the mission of spreading the kingdom. This doesn’t mean we should be careless but rather that we should trust in God’s goodness and provision.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Do we trust God enough to let go of our need for control or security? Are we willing to share our time, talents, and resources with others? The moral lesson here is clear: faith and generosity go hand in hand. May we, like the early Christians, live with open hearts and hands, trusting that God will provide as we serve others in love.