Thursday – St Barnabas, Apostle

An early Christian leader from Cyprus.
He sold his field and gave the proceeds to the apostles in Jerusalem.

Invitation

May I take this opportunity to draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?

This invitation aims to share with you the joy
of the Gospel. Everyone, without exception,
can experience that joy by opening their hearts
to the healing power of God’s word.

Available every day.

Consideration

Today’s Gospel reading paints a picture of the preacher. He sees God’s grace at work in the community he visits. We hear that disciples who are in the service of the Lord and work for his Church must be provided with lodging and food by others. In a world where performance, profit, strategy and marketing rank highest on the scale of prosperity, today’s message sounds strange, almost incomprehensible, and in any case difficult to put into practice. Saint Barnabas invites us to be generous and not to give up too quickly.

FIRST READING          Acts 11, 21b-26; 13, 1-3
He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.

From the Acts of the Apostles

In those days,
a great many came to the faith
and turned to the Lord.
News of the deeds of the Lord’s followers
reached the church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
When he arrived there,
and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged everyone to remain faithful to the Lord
with all their heart and soul.
He was a good man,
full of the Holy Spirit and faith.

Many people were won over to the Lord.

He then set out for Tarsus
to look for Saul.
When he had found him,
he brought him to Antioch.
For a full year they attended the meetings of that church
and taught a large crowd.
It was in Antioch
that the disciples were first called Christians.

There were prophets and teachers in the church there:
Barnabas, who was also called Simon Niger,
Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen, a childhood friend of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were once performing sacred service for the Lord
and fasting,
the Holy Spirit spoke:
“Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work
to which I have called them.”
After fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them
and sent them off.

RESPONSORIAL    Ps. 98(97), 1, 2-3ab, 3c-4, 5-6

The Lord has made his justice known to the nations.

Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvellous deeds.
His hand has been mighty,
the power of his holy arm.

He has made known His benefits to us,
His justice to the nations.
Once again His goodness and faithfulness
have been shown to the house of Israel.

The whole earth has seen
what our God has done for us.
Praise the Lord, all nations,
rejoice, be glad and sing.

Sing to the Lord with the harp,
with harp and psaltery.
Let the trumpet and the horn resound
and dance before the Lord, your King.

ALLELUIA   Mt. 28, 19a and 20b

Alleluia.
Go and make disciples of all nations;
Behold, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL Mt. 10, 7-13
Proclaim as you go: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is near.’

From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew

At that time, Jesus said to the Twelve:
“As you go, proclaim:
The Kingdom of Heaven is near.
Heal the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse the lepers and drive out demons.
“You received without payment; give without payment.
“Do not, therefore, acquire gold, silver or copper
no extra tunic, no sandals or staff,
for the labourer is worthy of his keep.
“When you enter a town or a village, find out
who is worthy to receive you,
and stay there until you leave.
“When you enter that house,
give it your greeting of peace;
and if it is worthy,
may your peace come upon that house,
but if it is not worthy,
then let your peace return to you.”
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