11 Jun
Wed
St Barnabas, apostle
Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3
Ps. 97:1,2-4,5-6
Mt. 10:7-13
(Ps Wk II)
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A tension that existed in the early Church underlies today's readings. Jesus confined his missionary efforts almost exclusively to his fellow Jews. Embedded, however in the Good News, was the imperative to grow and expand. Before he ascended into heaven, therefore, Jesus explicitly commissioned His apostles to spread the Good News to the ends of the world.

The Church is a human family as well as a divine one, so it is not surprising that some of the converts from Judaism hesitated to welcome indiscriminately converts from non-Jewish backgrounds. They feared a dilution of their beloved beliefs and practices. It took Barnabas along with Paul to break the log jam. They lobbied hard at meetings, received pagan converts into the Church at Antioch and set off on missionary journeys to exotic places at the Lord's command.

After some time, however, Barnabas began to have some doubts about the policy he had so enthusiastically embraced. He began to pull back a little and parted company with Paul. Barnabas, however, was a "good man" and continued his zealous missionary work according to the light as he saw it.

When we are saddened and worried by controversies in the Church we can remember that even in the first flush of its zeal the early Church experienced differences of opinion.



Lord, we are still here, still in the Lord's business and the same Holy Spirit is still with us.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That all Christians may cultivate a deep and personal friendship with Christ, in order to be able to communicate the strength of his love to every person they meet.
Elaboration

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