First Reading (Acts 11,21b-26,13,1-3)
Reading of the Acts of the Apostles.
In those days, many people believed in the Gospel and converted to the Lord. The news reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem. So they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When Barnabas arrived and saw the grace that God had granted, he was very happy and exhorted everyone to remain faithful to the Lord, with firmness of heart. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And a great multitude adhered to the Lord.
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus, looking for Saul. Having found Saul, he took him to Antioch. They spent a whole year working together in that Church, and instructed a large crowd. In Antioch the disciples were, for the first time, called Christians.
In the church of Antioch, there were prophets and doctors. They were: Barnabas, Simeon, called the Black, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who was raised together with Herod, and Saul. One day, while they were celebrating the liturgy in honor of the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said: “Separate for me Barnabas and Saul, to do the work to which I have called them.” Then they fasted and prayed, laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul, and let them go.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Matthew 10,7-13)
— Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “On your way, proclaim: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand’. Heal the sick, raise the dead, purify lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely you must give! Do not carry gold or silver or money in your belts; neither a bag for the journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, because the worker has the right to his livelihood.
In any city or town you enter, find out who is worthy there. Stay with him until your departure. When you enter a house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; If she is not worthy, let your peace return to you.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, the readings invite us to reflect on the mission of the Church and the role that each of us plays in spreading the Gospel. The passages from the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of Matthew challenge us to be true disciples, announcers of the good news, and to live our faith in a concrete way, transforming the world around us.
In the passage from the Acts of the Apostles, we read about the growth of the Church in Antioch, where “the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number of people believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21b). Antioch became a vital center of early Christianity, a place where Jews and Gentiles united in faith in Christ. Barnabas and Paul were sent to help strengthen this community. This passage highlights the importance of missionary work and leadership in the Church.
Barnabas, whose name means “son of consolation”, was a man of faith and full of the Holy Spirit. He recognized Paul’s potential and brought him to Antioch, where together they taught and encouraged the community for a year. This is where the disciples are called Christians for the first time. This designation indicates a new and distinct identity, centered on Christ.
We may ask ourselves: how can we be like Barnabas and Paul today? How can we encourage and strengthen the faith of our brothers and sisters? One way is through the testimony of our lives. If we live according to the teachings of Christ, being examples of love, justice and mercy, we will inspire others to do the same.
The text continues to narrate that in the Church of Antioch there were prophets and teachers. As they worshiped the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said: “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2). After fasting and praying, they laid hands on them and sent them away. This act of laying on of hands is significant, representing the transmission of authority and the blessing of the community for the mission that followed. Prayer and fasting prepared the apostles for the mission, demonstrating the importance of communion with God and seeking his will before undertaking any major task.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus sends out the twelve apostles with the instruction: “Go, proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers and cast out demons. Freely you received, freely you must give” (Matthew 10:7-8). These words of Jesus are powerful and full of meaning.
First, He calls us to proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. This means living in a way that makes God’s presence visible in the world. Each of us, in our daily lives, is called to be a sign of the Kingdom, whether at work, in the family, at school or in the community.
Jesus also instructs us to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons. These miraculous actions were signs of God’s power working through the apostles, showing that the Kingdom of Heaven was indeed at hand. Today, we are called to continue that mission, not necessarily through spectacular miracles, but through acts of compassion, healing and liberation.
Healing the sick can be seen not only as physical healing, but also as emotional and spiritual healing. We can be God’s instruments by offering comfort to a friend in pain, by providing support to someone who is experiencing difficulties, or by simply being there for someone who needs a shoulder to lean on.
Raising the dead can be understood as bringing new life to seemingly hopeless situations. It could be helping someone find new purpose, offering a second chance, or inspiring hope in the midst of despair.
Purifying lepers and casting out demons symbolizes the fight against sin and evil. We are called to combat injustice, defend the marginalized and work to transform social structures that oppress and cause suffering.
Jesus ends by saying: “Freely you received, freely you must give.” This is a reminder that everything we have – our gifts, our faith, our salvation – is a gift from God. And as such, we are called to share these gifts generously with others. We should not keep faith to ourselves but spread it through our actions and words.
These readings challenge us to reflect on our own mission as Christians. Each of us is called to be an active disciple, a missionary in our own context. We may not be sent to distant lands like Barnabas and Paul, but we are sent to our workplaces, our families, our communities.
How, then, can we live this calling? Firstly, through prayer and the continuous search for God’s will in our lives. Just as Barnabas and Paul were chosen through prayer and fasting, we need to be in communion with God to discern our path.
Secondly, through service to others. Jesus’ words remind us that our mission is to serve, heal, liberate and love. When we commit to living these values, we become true ambassadors of the Kingdom of God.
Finally, through the testimony of our lives. Faith is not something we can keep hidden; it must be lived and shared. By being living examples of Christ’s love, we attract others to faith and contribute to the expansion of the Kingdom of Heaven.
As we close, let us remember the words of Jesus: “Freely you received, freely you must give.” May we live our lives with generosity and grace, recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God. May we be shining lights in the world, healing, restoring and bringing hope wherever we go.
May the Lord bless us and strengthen us in our mission. Amen.
