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Writer's pictureMary Jo Barr

Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle


Reading 1  ACTS 11:21B-26; 13:1-3

In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people was added to the Lord. Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the Church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off.



Gospel  MT 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”


REFLECTION

"... Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”


Light attracts. Have you noticed that moths, beetles, other insects are drawn to your porch light? Fishermen use light to attract fish. Even bugs and fish have their own light. Lightening bugs use their light to find other lightening bugs. Fish use their

bioluminescence to attract their prey. Light attracts life.


In the first Reading of Acts and the Gospel of Matthew, light and good works are the theme. The Apostles noticed that Barnabas was filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. He brought many in Antioch to believe in Jesus. He let the "light from the Holy Spirit" in him shine. The people were attracted to his good works and his enthusiasm for sharing the faith.


Jesus tells the apostles that they are the "light of the world". " Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”


Jesus' message to His disciples plays out in the reporting of St. Luke's Acts of the Apostles. After the Apostles received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, their actions attracted thousands, just as a light attracts other living creatures to it.


We must let our light shine before others. When we do good deeds, people notice. They will want to know more about us. They will question, "Why?"


Visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and ask Him to shine His light through you.











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