Friday, 12 June 2015

BE APOSTLES FOR CHRIST

20150611 BE APOSTLES FOR CHRIST

Readings at Mass

First reading
Acts 11:21-26,13:1-3 ©
A great number believed and were converted to the Lord.
  The church in Jerusalem heard about this and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. There he could see for himself that God had given grace, and this pleased him, and he urged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with heartfelt devotion; for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. And a large number of people were won over to the Lord.
  Barnabas then left for Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. As things turned out they were to live together in that church a whole year, instructing a large number of people. It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians.’
  In the church at Antioch the following were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. One day while they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping a fast, the Holy Spirit said, ‘I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them.’ So it was that after fasting and prayer they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Psalm
Psalm 97:1-6 ©
The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.
Sing a new song to the Lord
  for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
  have brought salvation.
The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
  has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love
  for the house of Israel.
The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.
All the ends of the earth have seen
  the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
  ring out your joy.
The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.
Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp
  with the sound of music.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
  acclaim the King, the Lord.
The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.

Gospel Acclamation
cf.1Th2:13
Alleluia, alleluia!
Accept God’s message for what it really is:
God’s message, and not some human thinking.
Alleluia!
Or
Jn13:34
Alleluia, alleluia!
I give you a new commandment:
love one another just as I have loved you,
says the Lord.
Alleluia!

Gospel
Matthew 10:7-13 ©

7 And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.
8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those suffering from virulent skin-diseases, drive out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.
9 Provide yourselves with no gold or silver, not even with coppers for your purses,
10 with no haversack for the journey or spare tunic or footwear or a staff, for the labourer deserves his keep.
11 'Whatever town or village you go into, seek out someone worthy and stay with him until you leave.
12 As you enter his house, salute it,
13 and if the house deserves it, may your peace come upon it; if it does not, may your peace come back to you.
BE APOSTLES FOR CHRIST


SCRIPTURE READINGS: Acts 11:21-26. 13:1-3; Matthew 10:7-13
In the first reading, we read about how the Apostolic Church rejoiced to know that “a great number believed and were converted to the Lord.”  We have received the Good News and the anointing of the Holy Spirit as a free gift from God and therefore, we are also called to share this gift with others.  The gift of the Holy Spirit is not meant for us only, but for all.  A good indication of whether we have received the Holy Spirit is reflected in our desire to proclaim the Good News to others.  After all, the Holy Spirit is love.  When we have received the love of God in person in the Holy Spirit, we cannot but desire to share this love with others.  Gratitude is always expressed in sharing.  We read in the first reading the missionary thrust of the primitive Church.  Whenever there was an opportunity, they would spread the Good News.
How then are we to proclaim the Good News?  Firstly, we are called to reach out and bring the Good News of peace.  Like the disciples of Jesus, we are sent to proclaim the Good News.  This peace of course is not worldly peace, but the peace that comes from our reconciliation with God and with our fellowmen.  When one is at peace with God, he finds true peace and joy.  The Good News is that God has reconciled us in Christ.  Having received the gift freely, we must go on to be the carrier of Good News.  Isn’t this what Jesus told His disciples, “You have received without charge, give without charge … As you enter his house, salute it, and if the house deserves it, let your peace descend upon it; if it does not, let your peace come back to you”?  Truly, we must be people who bring the peace of God to all men.
How can we bring the Good News of peace if not by proclamation?  We are called in other words to testify to what God has done for us in Christ.  There is nothing like a testimony.  This is because we are weak in faith and we need to be affirmed and reminded that God is alive and at work in us.  Testimonies inspire us to carry on.  This explains why in prayer meetings and novenas, testimonies of God’s work are important to spur people to faith and hope for more, never underestimating the power of God.  So having witnessed the power of God, we must now make Him known and let the world know that Jesus is alive!  Indeed, the early church too received the news of conversion with great joy.   We read, “The church in Jerusalem heard about this and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. There he could see for himself that God had given grace, and this pleased him, and he urged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with heartfelt devotion.”
Thirdly, we are called to exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that the power of God is made known to others and to stimulate faith in them.  Jesus instructed His disciples, “As you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils.”  Yes, we must continue to exercise the gifts we have received.  Today, many are seeking for deliverance from illness, from being alienated like lepers from society or from God; and many are under bondage of lust, anger and greed.  Yes, we must use the gifts of the Spirit given to us, be they prophecy, tongues, prayers, healing, deliverance or love to restore others to wholeness.  The Good News must be proclaimed not just in words but in the power of the Holy Spirit seen in the effects of His work among those whom we minister to, especially the poor, the sick and the oppressed.
Fourthly, besides testifying to the power of God in words and deeds, we are called to instruct our people in the faith.  We read that “Barnabas then left for Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. As things turned out they were to live together in that church a whole year, instructing a number of people.”  So we must continue to be instructed and instruct others about our faith in Christ.  Only by instructing others can we truly learn about our faith.  Faith cannot grow if we simply depend on miracles, apparitions and emotional experiences.   We need to grow in knowledge and understanding of our faith so that our relationship with the Lord can grow in maturity, a depth that can withstand the tribulations of life, and its ups and downs.
Finally, to be effective in our evangelical activity, we must be exemplary and be people of Good News in person.  We are called to be like Barnabas for we are told that because he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith … a large number of people were won over to the Lord.”  At the end of the day, there is nothing like being a witness in our faith and in our daily lives.  The preacher must walk the talk, otherwise his teachings will not change lives.  We are enlightened by a talk or a good homily but we are inspired by a person who endeavours to be the incarnation of the gospel.  Hence, preachers must not only preach with conviction, but this conviction must be seen in his lifestyle as well.
However, to exercise all these qualities, we cannot rely on ourselves but on the power of God.   It is within this context that we come to understand why Jesus instructed the disciples accordingly, “Provide yourselves with no gold or silver, not even with a few coppers for your purses, with no haversack for the journey or spare tunic or footwear or a staff, for the workman deserves his keep.”  The truth is that so long as we are self-sufficient, we will not rely on the power of God, but on our own ingenuity and strength.  And even though some of us might acknowledge that our talents and charisms are the gifts of God, yet the experience of God’s power at work in us would not be powerfully felt.  The invitation to simplicity and poverty is to force us to trust and depend on God alone, on His power and wisdom and not on human means.  This was the way of Jesus.  He could perform miracles because in His powerlessness, His total dependence on His Father allows God to reveal His power in and through Him in the Holy Spirit.  Unless we depend on the Holy Spirit rather than on our own strength, we cannot work the same miracles that Jesus did.
To rely on God’s power requires that we continue to be devoted to the Lord.  That was why Barnabas urged the newly converted Christians that being baptized is only the first stage of spiritual life.  Because the Lord is faithful to us; we should be faithful to Him as the early Christians were. They “remain(ed) faithful to the Lord with heartfelt devotion”.   Yes, we must put God as the centre of our lives.  Heartfelt devotion speaks of a personal relationship with someone.   Thus, we must maintain a personal relationship with the Lord for this is the whole purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.  It is hoped that having received the Holy Spirit, the love of God in person, we will be able to cultivate a personal relationship with Christ.
Thirdly, we must pray and fast.  That was what the early Church did.  We are told that the Holy Spirit spoke to the Christians when “they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping a fast”.  In prayer, we deepen our relationship with the Lord.  But fasting is also important, for only when we are hungry physically can we feel the presence of God because of our weakness.  Of course, fasting is essential because we are called to fast from sin, evil thoughts and the sins of the flesh.  Our sins prevent us from being the Good News of God in person.   We must believe in the power of intercessory prayer.  
Discernment of mission is not possible without prayer and fasting. Only in prayer and fasting can we hear what the Lord wants of us, just as the Holy Spirit told the early Christians, “I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them.”  The first reading makes it clear that it was “after fasting and prayer they laid their hands on them and sent them off.  In this way, we will not be doing our will but the will of God.”  We must not choose to do what we desire, but what God wants.  This is implied in Jesus’ instructions to the disciples, “Whatever town or village you go into, ask for someone trustworthy and stay with him until you leave.”
Finally, as we celebrate the Feast of St Barnabas, let us give encouragement to each other.  Incidentally, Barnabas means the son of encouragement.  So it is important that in our ministry, we must encourage each other.  Quite often, people active in Church ministry give up their service in church or become disheartened because they do not receive support from their leaders and members.   Our faith is dependent on God certainly, but also on the Church, the Body of Christ.  We must come together often in praise and worship so that we can be filled with the Holy Spirit, renewed by His love for us and be empowered for the mission.  Christ always sends out His disciples in pairs precisely to teach us that this mission must be done in communion and in collaboration with each other.   Only when we evangelize as a Church can we be a potent force in the world.


Written by The Most Rev William Goh
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore

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