June 11, 2020 Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle

2020년 6월 11일 성 바르나바 사도 기념일

 

 

오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp 

제1독서

사도행전. 11,21ㄴ-26; 13,1-3
그 무렵 21 많은 수의 사람이 믿고 주님께 돌아섰다.
22 예루살렘에 있는 교회는 그들에 대한 소문을 듣고,
바르나바를 안티오키아로 가라고 보냈다.
23 그곳에 도착한 바르나바는 하느님의 은총이 내린 것을 보고 기뻐하며,
모두 굳센 마음으로 주님께 계속 충실하라고 격려하였다.
24 사실 바르나바는 착한 사람이며 성령과 믿음이 충만한 사람이었다.
그리하여 수많은 사람이 주님께 인도되었다.

25 그 뒤에 바르나바는 사울을 찾으려고 타르수스로 가서,
26 그를 만나 안티오키아로 데려왔다.
그들은 만 일 년 동안 그곳 교회 신자들을 만나며
수많은 사람을 가르쳤다.
이 안티오키아에서 제자들이 처음으로 ‘그리스도인’이라고 불리게 되었다.
13,1 안티오키아 교회에는 예언자들과 교사들이 있었는데,
그들은 바르나바, 니게르라고 하는 시메온, 키레네 사람 루키오스,
헤로데 영주의 어린 시절 친구 마나엔, 그리고 사울이었다.
2 그들이 주님께 예배를 드리며 단식하고 있을 때에
성령께서 이르셨다.
“내가 일을 맡기려고 바르나바와 사울을 불렀으니,
나를 위하여 그 일을 하게 그 사람들을 따로 세워라.”
3 그래서 그들은 단식하며 기도한 뒤
그 두 사람에게 안수하고 나서 떠나보냈다.

 

 

 

복음

마태오. 10,7-13
그때에 예수님께서 사도들에게 말씀하셨다.
7 “가서 ‘하늘 나라가 가까이 왔다.’ 하고 선포하여라.
8 앓는 이들을 고쳐 주고 죽은 이들을 일으켜 주어라.
나병 환자들을 깨끗하게 해 주고 마귀들을 쫓아내어라.
너희가 거저 받았으니 거저 주어라.
9 전대에 금도 은도 구리 돈도 지니지 마라.
10 여행 보따리도 여벌 옷도 신발도 지팡이도 지니지 마라.
일꾼이 자기 먹을 것을 받는 것은 당연하다.
11 어떤 고을이나 마을에 들어가거든,
그곳에서 마땅한 사람을 찾아내어
떠날 때까지 거기에 머물러라.
12 집에 들어가면 그 집에 평화를 빈다고 인사하여라.
13 그 집이 평화를 누리기에 마땅하면
너희의 평화가 그 집에 내리고,
마땅하지 않으면 그 평화가 너희에게 돌아올 것이다.”

June 11, 2020

Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle 

 

Daily Readings — Audio

Daily Reflections — Video

http://www.usccb.org/bible/ 

Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass 

 

Reading 1 Acts 11:21b-26; 12:1-3

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.
 

Responsorial Psalm PS 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.

Alleluia Jn 13:34R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
 

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." 

 

http://evangeli.net/gospel/tomorrow

 «Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life...»

Fr. Antoni CAROL i Hostench
(Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain)

 

Today, we celebrate the apostle Joseph, «a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means “Son of Encouragement”)» (Acts 4:36). He was generous from the beginning: «And who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the Apostles' feet» (Acts 4:37). He brought St. Paul to the Apostles, who were afraid of him and, with Paul, they opened the apostolate to all peoples. First, in Antioch, where «when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people were added unto the Lord» (Acts 11:23-24). His apostolic zeal was an example, as he was putting into practice the Master's commandment: «Go and proclaim this message ‘The kingdom of heaven is near’» (Mt 10:7). 

«Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them» (Acts 13:2), proclaimed the Holy Spirit: they went to Cyprus and Asia Minor, and suffered greatly for their Lord. They had differences of opinion and even parted because of Mark, who quitted half of the way, and Paul did not accept him on their next journey; but Barnabas knew how to trust Mark and, later on, we will see him as a great collaborator of Peter and Paul.

Let us learn not to classify people into boxes, for «souls, like good wine, improve with time» (St. Josemaria), when we support them with our confidence and we love them, for «nobody can be really known unless we love him» (St. Augustine).

When we see somebody weakening or retreating, let us persevere just as Barnabas did, whose namesake also means “brave man”, and “he who encourages and enthuses”. These are characteristics very much in need of today. This is why we turn to the Lord with the words of the Collect: «God our Father, you filled St. Barnabas with faith and the Holy Spirit and sent him to convert the nations. Help us to proclaim the Gospel by word and deed».

 

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

 

We live in turbulent times, with chaos in so many parts of the world.  In the U.S., the COVID-19 pandemic has burrowed into the consciousness of our society, bringing out the best and worst in people.  The basic social fabric is founded, I always thought, on agreeing to exercise one’s freedom in such a way that no harm is brought to another member of society.  My freedom extends broadly, and it ends when I can cause you harm or put you in a position where you are less safe than before.  I wear a mask in public to guard against harming you in case there is something wrong with me, not necessarily to protect me from you.

On top of the stress of combating a pandemic which has caused over 100,000 deaths in the U.S. alone, we now have another situation where members of a police force have caused the death of a black man while in their custody.  Peaceful protests and marches have unfortunately led to more death, violence and looting.  Law enforcement officers have at times reacted to protect with compassion and solidarity, but also to control and enforce order with gasses and clubs.

I reflect on today’s excerpt from Matthew while holding these competing social situations in my mind.   Religious leaders have expressed a variety of opinions and words of guidance to their congregations on both the pandemic and the latest racial violence.  One pastor famously insisted that “God’s rule” transcended public authority in this area and that his congregation would meet in violation of social distancing rules; he contracted COVID-19 and died of the disease.  Some religious leaders have expressed more support for law and order than for the racial intolerance that results in the deaths of innocent men and women.

As He so many times does, Jesus reminds us to not be like the scribes and Pharisees.  He refuses to exalt process and false piety above real compassion and empathy.  For Jesus, following ritual while one’s heart is troubled by strained human relationships is hypocrisy.  He admonishes His followers to fix their human problems before they attempt to meaningfully interact with the divine. 

In today’s situation, I think Jesus would tell us to relinquish our fear of the unknown.  He would ask us  to calm our anger at the changed economic and life security circumstances that are beyond our personal control.  He most assuredly would condemn our hatred and prejudice for those who we think of as the other.

Jesus would challenge us to look inward, to reflect on our attitudes and dispositions, to understand how we may hold unfair expectations of entitlement and privilege.  He would invite us to open our hearts and arms, to unclench our fists, and to join in His love for those who are hurting from the pandemic, for those who are victims of senseless racial violence, for those who oppress and persecute these innocents, and for those in authority who act as unthinking bullies.  He would join us in dialogue with victims and their families, with communities and businesses, with police and other government security forces, in searching for paths to a more just future for us all.      

And so, my prayer today is for the grace to be ever mindful of how I have unknowingly treated others with prejudice, how I have failed to be sensitive to my positions of privilege, and for the strength to open my arms and unclench my fists in solidarity with Jesus and all my sisters and brothers. 

 

 

 http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp

ENCOURAGEMENT PLUS

“He encouraged them all to remain firm in their commitment to the Lord.” —Acts 11:23 “Then...” —Acts 11:25

You would expect anyone known as the “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36) to spend his time exhorting people to remain firm in their commitment to the Lord. The leaders of the Jerusalem church expected this from Barnabas. That’s why they sent him to strengthen the new converts in a young church which faced possible persecution (Acts 11:19).

Encouragement, for Barnabas, was not just doing the expected: a few kind words and “being there” for others. Encouragement also meant finishing the job: personally doing whatever it took to make sure that each person became a solid, life-long disciple of Jesus. Barnabas knew that the best way to give his new converts fresh and continuing courage was to feed them God’s Word. Accordingly, Barnabas made sure those he was encouraging would receive God’s Word by personally travelling to Tarsus, tracking down Paul, and bringing him back to Antioch (Acts 11:25-26). Together, they “instructed great numbers” “for a whole year,” probably by means of daily Scripture teaching (Acts 11:26). By the time Barnabas completed his “encouragement,” the new converts were now called “Christians” and “disciples” (Acts 11:26), meaning those who have absolutely committed themselves to follow Jesus.

Be sons and daughters of encouragement. “Encourage one another” (Heb 10:25) and finish the job.

Prayer:  Father, Source of all encouragement (Rm 15:5), teach me “how to rouse” and encourage Your people (Heb 10:24-25).

Promise:  “Cure the sick, raise the dead, heal the leprous, expel demons. The gift you have received, give as a gift.” —Mt 10:8

Praise:  St. Barnabas encouraged Antioch to accept St. Paul, and St. Paul to accept his nephew, John Mark

 

 http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/

 Be reconciled to your brother

Are you ever driven by anger, rage, or revenge? The first person to hate his brother was Cain, the son of Adam and Eve. God warned Cain: Why are you angry? ..Sin is couching at the door; it's desire is for you, but you must master it (Genesis 4:6-7). Sin doesn't just happen to us - it first grows as a tiny seed in our heart. Unless it is uprooted by God's grace, it grows like a weed and chokes the vine and all its fruit. 

Forbidden anger must be uprooted from our heart
Jesus addressed the issue of keeping the commandments with his disciples. The scribes and Pharisees equated righteousness with satisfying the outward observance of the law. Jesus showed them how short they had come. Jesus points to the heart as the seat of desire and choice. Unless evil and forbidden desires are eradicated, the heart will be corrupted. Jesus points to forbidden anger with one's brother. This is a selfish anger that broods and is long-lived, that nurses a grudge and keeps wrath warm, and that refuses to die. Harboring anger in the heart as well as anger in speech and action are equally forbidden by God.

God's love and truth sets us free from anger and malice
What is the antidote to anger and rage? Mercy, kindness, and forbearance spring from a heart full of love and forgiveness. God has forgiven us and he calls us to extend mercy and forgiveness towards those who cause us grief and harm. In the cross of Jesus we see the supreme example of love and forgiveness and the power of goodness for overcoming evil. Only God's love and grace can set our hearts and minds free from the tyranny of wounded pride and spiteful revenge. 

Do you harbor any anger towards another person? And are you quick to be reconciled when a rupture has been caused in your relationships? Ask God to set you free and to fill your heart and mind with his love and goodness. Paul the Apostle reminds us that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). Through the grace and help of the Holy Spirit we can overcome malice with good, hatred with kindness, and injury with pardon.

"May I be no man's enemy, and may I be the friend of that which is eternal and abides. May I never quarrel with those nearest me: and if I do, may I be reconciled quickly. May I love, seek, and attain only that which is good. May I wish for all men's happiness and envy none. May I never rejoice in the ill-fortune of one who has wronged me. When I have done or said what is wrong, may I never wait for the rebuke of others, but always rebuke myself until I make amends. May I win no victory that harms either me or my opponent. May I reconcile friends who are angry with one another. May I never fail a friend who is in danger. When visiting those in grief may I be able by gentle and healing words to soften their pain. May I respect myself. May I always keep tame that which rages within me. May I accustom myself to be gentle, and never be angry with people because of circumstances. May I never discuss who is wicked and what wicked things he has done, but know good men and follow in their footsteps."  (Prayer of Eusebius, 3rd century)

Psalm 85:9,11-13

9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. 
11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. 
12 Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 
13 Righteousness will go before him, and make his footsteps a way.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Taming the Tongue, by Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD)

"What are we to do? Whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire. But no human being can tame the tongue. Will everyone therefore go to the hell of fire? By no means. Lord, you have become our refuge from generation to generation (Psalm 90:1). Your wrath is just. You send no one      to hell unjustly. Where shall I go from your spirit? or where shall I flee from your presence (Psalm 139:7), unless to you? Thus let us understand, my dearly beloved, that if no human being can tame the tongue, we must take refuge in God, who will tame it. Does your own human nature prevent you from taming your tongue? No human being can tame the tongue (James 3:8). Consider this analogy from the animals that we tame. A horse does not tame itself; a camel does not tame itself; an elephant does not tame itself; a snake does not tame itself; a lion does not tame itself. So too a man does not tame himself. In order to tame a horse, an ox, a camel, an elephant, a lion and a snake, a human being is required. Therefore God should be required in order for a human being to be tamed. (excerpt from Sermon 55:2)

  

 

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June 11, 2019 Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle