June 11, 2003 - Wednesday

ST. BARNABAS, Apostle, Memorial

Readings:
Acts 11:22-36; 13:1-3; (Listen to MP3 - The Curch of Antioch Acts 11:19-26
& Mission of Paul and Barnabas - Acts 13:1-12)
Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6; Mt 5:17-19

Note. The first reading is proper to this memorial.
         • 10th Week in Ordinary Time

Introduction

St. Paul owed very much to this missionary, for Barnabas  involved Paul in his work among the Christians of Antioch, who were of pagan origin. Acts called Barnabas “a prophet and teacher” and “a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith.” He was an open spirit, convinced that if one had faith it was enough to let one become eligible to be a Christian. Inspired by the Spirit, the leaders of the community of Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas on their missionary mission.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
prompted by the Holy Spirit,
the church of Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas
on their missionary mission among pagans.
Let your Church everywhere send
good, zealous men and women as missionaries.
Fill them with the Holy Spirit and with faith,
that they may touch the hearts of people
and win them as disciples and friends
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scripture Readings

First Reading: Acts 11:22-26; 13:1-3 (Listen to MP3 - The Curch of Antioch Acts 11:19-26 & Mission of Paul and Barnabas - Acts 13:1-12)

The hand of the Lord was with them so that a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

News of this reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the manifest signs of God's favor, he rejoiced and urged them all to remain firmly faithful to the Lord; for he himself was a good man filled with Holy Spirit and faith. Thus large crowds came to know the Lord.

Then Barnabas went off to Tarsus to look for Saul and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they had meetings with the Church and instructed many people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

There were at Antioch - in the Church which was there - prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon known as Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod, and Saul. On one occasion while they were celebrating the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have called them." So, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

R (see 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Gospel Introduction
        Jesus says something similar in words that at first sight seem to say the opposite: he has come not to abolish the law but to fulfill it, that is, to give it deeper dimensions. What matters for us especially is that we must be aware that we live under the new law of love and that we are guided by the liberating Holy Spirit from servitude to the law.

Gospel Reading: Mt 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples, "Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. You received this as a gift, so give it as a gift. Do not carry any gold, silver or copper in your purses. Do not carry a traveler's bag, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or walking-stick: workers deserve their living.

"When you come to a town or a village, look for a worthy person and stay there until you leave.

"As you enter the house, wish it peace. If the people in the house deserve it, your peace will be on them; if they do not deserve it, your blessing will come back to you."

Commentary

The death and resurrection of Christ gave birth to a new order, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah, "Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth." Until then, faithfulness to the law of Moses remained valid as a means of serving God. Now, we who live in the new heavens and the new earth please God in an entirely new way. The Holy Spirit is in our hearts, molding us into the image of Christ, the Son in whom the Father is well pleased. As St. Paul says, "God has sent into your hearts the Spirit of his Son which cries out: Abba! that is Father. You yourself are no longer a slave but a son or a daughter, and yours is the inheritance by God's grace" (Gal 4:6-7).

General Intercessions

– For all of us in the Church, that we may have enough love to obey the commandments to know and practice that they show our love of God and of neighbor, we pray:

– For priests, that in the sacrament of reconciliation they may let sinners feel the patience and the compassion of God, we pray:

– For all of us, that we may ask ourselves not what we are obliged to do but what we can do for God and one another, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God,
let the eucharist of Jesus
bring the light and life of your Son and his zeal
to our communities everywhere
to make them missionary
by the way they live
and to make Christ visible to people.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

God of all people,
at the celebration of St. Barnabas we pray:
Make all your missionaries
people of the Holy Spirit and of deep faith,
that they may speak to the people you send them
the words of life and joy of the good news
and cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse those unclean and cast out evil.
May they do so generously, without charge,
for they have received from you without charge
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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