Set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work

Acts 12:24-13:5, Jn 12:44-50. The loving union between the members of the Church and their fidelity to God is modelled after the union between Jesus and our Heavenly Father. In today's Gospel, Jesus also speaks of the Heavenly Father, who sent Him: “The Father who sent me has told me what to say and how to speak.” His aim is centred on sharing the Father’s merciful vision of the human family. God sent His Son out of love for the world. This sending involves a real giving, for God gave His Son to us and for us. In the same way, today's first reading, describes how the Church of Antioch gave its two most gifted speakers to parts of the Roman Empire where Christ had not yet been preached.

In the Church at Antioch, they were fasting when gathered for prayer, because they seek special guidance. They hoped that fasting would open their minds fully to what God wants from them. That was when the Holy Spirit inspired and sent Barnabas and Saul on a special mission: “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work...” The Lord gave them the strength, courage and wisdom to carry out His will and the mission entrusted to them and the Apostles and other disciples prayed over the missionaries before they embarked on their journey. The sending out of Barnabas and Paul took generosity on the part of the Antioch Christians, who sacrificed their best speakers for the sake of others. That is the vocation of our Church and our own vocation as Christians, to share what is most precious to us for the benefit of others. Each local Church and Parish is called not just to maintain itself, but to serve other groups whether near or far away. We seek to be as generous to others as God has been to us.

May the Lord be with us in our journey of faith and direct our efforts, that in everything we do, we will always bring glory to the Lord! Amen!! Remain safe, it is well with you!!!