A
New Missionary Approach
Acts
11:19-26; Ps 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7; Jn 10:22-30
Daily
Gospel
Introduction
The Christians of Antioch, the first to be called "Christians" as disciples of Christ, were of two kinds: those Greek-speaking of Jewish origin, who had fled to Antioch from the persecuted Church in Jerusalem. They communicated their faith to their fellow Jews, but they must have spoken of their faith in Christ also to some people of pagan roots who accepted Christ, now no longer as the promised Messiah but as the Lord of all. This placed the Church in a dilemma. Were these marginal Christians only second-class followers of Christ? Barnabas, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognized God's grace at work in them. Where the official Church of Jerusalem hesitates, Barnabas reads the signs of the times. To him it is God's will that these people accept Christ as their Lord. He faces and solves the missionary problem locally and is not afraid to go new ways.
Opening Prayer
Lord God, our Father,
the Spirit of Jesus calls us, as he called your Son,
to abandon our old selves and our old world
to be free for new life and growth.
Forgive us our fear and hesitations,
lead us out of our worn-out phrases and habits,
and our self-made certainties,
steep us in the gospel of your Son,
that his good news may become credible
in our times and our world.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Liturgy of the Word
Those who had been scattered because of the persecution over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message, but only to the Jews. But there were some natives of Cyprus and Cyrene among them who, on coming into Antioch, spoke also to the Greeks, giving them the good news of the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them so that a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
News of this reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the manifest signs of God's favor, he rejoiced and urged them all to remain firmly faithful to the Lord; for he himself was a good man filled with Holy Spirit and faith. Thus large crowds came to know the Lord.
Then Barnabas went off to Tarsus to look for Saul and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they had meetings with the Church and instructed many people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the Lord loves;
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacod.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.I tell of Egypt and Babylon
among those who know the Lord;
Of Philsistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:
"This man was born there."
And of Zion they shall say:
"One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High Lord."
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
"This man was born there."
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
"My home is within you."
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
The time came for the feast of the Dedication. It was winter and Jesus walked back and forth in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in doubt? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I have already told you but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name proclaim who I am, but you don't believe because, as I said, you are not my sheep.
"My sheep hear my voice and I know them; they follow me and I give them eternal life. They shall never perish and no one will ever steal them from me. What the Father has given me is stronger than everything and no one can snatch it from the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
Commentary
Jesus' mission from His heavenly Father is to lead to everlasting life God's holy people, the flock that is His own. Nothing will deter Him from His mission, not even the threats of His enemies and the misdeeds of those who would seek to bring his mission to an untimely end.
As brave as a shepherd facing down a pack of wolves, the Lord looks death in the eye and does not blink. Through His death on the cross, His beloved flock would be safeguarded from the powers of sin and death.
There is no snatching the flock from the hand of the Lord.
General Intercessions:
Let us pray today for a missionary Church and say: Lord, hear our prayer.
- That the Church may never tire of preaching Christ as the risen Lord, we pray:
- That the Church may never tire of asking the Lord to make it ever new and to be attentive to the signs of the times, we pray:
- That Christians may live in such a way that their life of faith attracts people to Christ, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Loving Father,
the bread and the wine on this table
speak to us of a journey into the future
to go together with your Son.
Change us as you change these gifts,
and transform us into the image of your Son.
Make us into people who dare stand up
to speak your message without fear
in a language our times understand,
people who have the courage
to go new ways where demanded,
yet always loyal to your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever.
Prayer
after Communion
Loving Father,
we are glad that we are called Christians,
men and women who follow Christ, your Son.
May we remain faithful to him
with a steadfast commitment
and fill us with the grace of the Lord,
that the Holy Spirit may live in us
and that we too may bring many to the Lord
and be worthy of the name
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
May the grace of God be at work in us to keep us faithful with steadfast commitment, that we may be true disciples of Christ. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Claretian Publications MACAU