MEMORIAL OF SAINT BARNABAS, APOSTLE - Gospel (Mt 10: 7 - 13) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give.” (Mt 10:8)

FIRST READING - Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3

A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles

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.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 5:17-19

From the Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.

I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,

not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter

will pass from the law,

until all things have taken place.

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments

and teaches others to do so

will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.

But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments

will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

MEMORIAL OF SAINT BARNABAS. APOSTLE - Gospel (Mt 10: 7 - 13)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

The Word of God today teaches us how God instructed His Apostles both in the past and today to go out and preach the Gospel by placing love and obedience to God's will above all else. When we begin with a deep love for God, we will joyfully go forth and do exactly what He has taught us to do for others.

God knows that Satan will strongly attack the Apostles whom He sends out. The devil will not allow them to preach the Gospel peacefully by human standards!

Therefore, God teaches everyone this: When going out to preach the Gospel, put love above all else, just as Jesus Christ did. When He desired to save all humanity, He began by obeying God’s will through love, by sacrificing Himself. It is that very love that erases all hatred and sin—the chains by which Satan holds souls captive.

God teaches His children that in order to overcome Satan’s temptations, the Apostles sent to preach the Gospel throughout the world must stay close to God, listen to His teachings, remember what He has given, and practice what He has taught. Beginning from a heart full of love, that love will spread to others, erasing hatred, division, captivity, and Satan's control and driving him away from the souls he seeks to imprison.

God also invites all souls to open their hearts to receive His will through those He has sent and to remain in His love through sacrifice and service to others. When we reach out to others with God's love, that power will drive out Satan.

Moreover, God invites all creation to open their hearts to receive His love and power. His mercy is revealed through those He has sent.

Thanks be to God. Amen

19:00 June 11th, 2025 - Prayer of Divine Mercy - The Way to heaven