Readings
from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
Readings and Commentary: [3]
First Reading: 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.
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Commentary on Acts 11:21b-26;
13:1-3
The increase of believers outside of Jerusalem
may be indirectly attributed to the efforts of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem who
drove out many of the Hellenistic Christians in Jerusalem. These pilgrims took
their faith with them and planted the seeds of faith in Antioch (and other
places within the Roman Empire). To effect consistent catechesis and
evangelization, Barnabas was sent to help form this informal community into a
center of faith which in its turn launched others to fulfill the mission of
Christ in the world.
Barnabas is sent by the body of the apostles to
investigate the situation in Antioch and to discover what Paul is doing.
Recall, Paul went through his conversion on the road to Damascus and never
received guidance or direction from the apostles. The last they knew, St. Paul
was still on the “other side.” Barnabas’ journey therefore was, at least until
he reached Antioch, tense. Barnabas finds Paul in Antioch and the two of them
begin an aggressive evangelical ministry.
In the second section (Ch. 13) we see Barnabas
and Saul (St. Paul) sent out from Antioch to spread the Gospel. Saul the
convert and Barnabas the apostle were set apart by the Lord for this purpose
and strengthened themselves spiritually through prayer and fasting before their
journey.
CCC: Acts 13:2 1070; Acts 13:3 699, 2632
-------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm
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.
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
Psalm 98 is a song of praise and thanksgiving.
We see in this selection how God is praised for the strength he lends his
people and the salvation he brings to those who are faithful (very much like
Psalm 96 in form and structure). Scholars contend that it is much like a
warrior’s victory song, where Yahweh is the great warrior-king winning
salvation for his chosen people. [3] From our perspective, knowing that he sent us his Son for our
salvation, we see clearly the reference to Jesus as God’s saving hand is
extended.
-------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 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.”
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 5:13-16
In this selection from the Gospel of Matthew,
Jesus uses allegory to push the Word of God into the world. He tells his
disciples they are an integral part of the faith of the people in God. As
seasoning is to food, so the Word of God is to faith. They must remain
steadfast so they do not lose zeal for God, which is the taste of that
seasoning. It is that which sets it apart.
He uses a second allegory, light, to provide still more direction. The
light of faith will be seen by all because it is reflected in the actions of
those who believe. That light serves to guide others to God, when they may
otherwise become lost in darkness, and wander into paths of desolation. That
light that pours from the disciples will be seen as a gift, not from them, but
from the Father, and the Father will be glorified because of the light.
“Salt and light each impart their own virtue, provided they remain fully
what they are. Christians are the means whereby God wants to flavor life, to
illuminate life. Do we not too often want to be receivers rather
than the givers, and do we not in this way become insipid and dark?
The disciple himself is responsible if the world around him remains crouching
in lethargy, untransformed.” [4]
CCC: Mt 5:13-16 782, 2821; Mt 5:14 1243; Mt 5:16 326
-------------------------------------------
Reflection:
St.
Barnabas, whose feast day we celebrate today, is a remarkable figure in the
history of Christianity. He was not one of the “Twelve” yet like St. Paul, his long-time
friend and confederate; bore the title “apostle.” Scripture tells us that he
was born on Cyprus and was of the tribe of Levi (Acts 4: 36). Born with the name “John,”
the Twelve renamed him Barnabas which means “Son of Encouragement.” He lived up
to this name as we hear in the first reading, for when he arrived in Antioch
and found a lively Christian community thriving there “he
rejoiced and encouraged them all.”
In
the latter part of that same account from Acts the church prays over both St.
Barnabas and St. Paul and sends them on what we now know was St. Paul’s first
missionary journey. And what was their first stop? Cyprus, St. Barnabas’ home
of origin.
As
we recall the important role St. Barnabas played at the very beginning of our
Church, we take away three lessons. First, we give thanks for God’s gift of St.
Barnabas. With St. Paul
they were the first ones who accepted the Lord’s instruction to take the Gospel
to the whole world. As St. Matthew’s Gospel tells us (Matthew 10:7-13), they
were not always accepted, but challenged in their work. Yet they were
courageous in the face of this opposition.
Next,
we see in St. Barnabas one who, like many of those singled out by God for
special purposes, like ourselves with no special outward mark that would have
caused us to take note of him. Yet, he accepted the mission to which God called
him and for which the Church ordained him. His example is one that should
inspire us all.
Finally,
we see in St. Barnabas the apostolate of encouragement. He spoke out for the
faith fearlessly, yes. But he also encouraged those who faced challenges to the
faith as his name implies. His encouragement of others is an important mission,
one we may all accept as we encourage one another to live a more active faith.
Today
we ask St. Barnabas to pray for us that we might accept the portion of that
mission that was entrusted to him, and like him, be an encouragement to others.
Pax
[1]
The picture is “Deliverance of Saint Paul and Saint Barnabas” by Claude-Guy
Halle, c. 1700.
[2]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible except for the Psalm and its
response which were developed by the International Committee for English in
Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for
private use only.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio
360/
580[4] The Word Biblical Commentary, Psalms 51-100, Volume 20 © 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. p.524.[5]
Fire of
Mercy Heart of the Word Volume I, Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, Ignatius Press, San
Francisco, CA, © 1996 p. 130.
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