We are in the middle of the Easter season as we are in the 4th week of Easter. The Easter season ends with Pentecost on , which is just before the school year ends for all of you. We have been hearing readings from the Acts of Apostles during these weeks of the Easter season. Last week, we heard about the stoning of Stephen, in which a man named Saul was a participant. We then heard about Saul’s persecution of many of the followers of Jesus. Then, saul has a great conversion and he becomes very involved in the Christian community. Today, we hear how Saul and Barnabas were preaching in the church, and were chosen by the Holy Spirit at work in the community to go to a special mission to Cyprus. Saul will later be known by the name Paul, the great missionary in the Early Church who spread the Gospel of Jesus to so much of the ancient world.
One other point that I find striking in today’s reading from Acts: At the beginning of this reading, Saul and Barnabas had just returned to Antioch from Jerusalem where they had brought relief supplies to the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem who were suffering from a terrible famine. Mutual support of brothers and sisters in need is an essential element of Christian community living. No matter what our station in life, no matter what our vocation, as disciples of Christ we are called to reach out to the poor and the vulnerable and those in need in a spirit of discipleship. That is to be seen as an essential part of our identity.
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