What can we learn from the readings of today? For me I see that you are only a great leader if you actually have people who will follow your lead. No one can lay claim to leadership otherwise. And so a leader must belong to a community. Not one looking from the outside of one, but of being One with the community. Both St Paul and St Barnabas exemplifies what this means that is to be in full communion, one Body In Christ. The same peace, love and encouragement they received from Christ Jesus Himself was shared with their fellow disciples. The message was clear for them as it is for all of us, Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. For Jesus is with us at every step, He is the Way, the Truth, and the life.So sisters and brothers even if we should be brought down to the ground by those with malicious intent. Let us pick ourselves up as we move forward with the peace of Jesus in our hearts. To love and serve the Lord by our lives. Sharing the good news of our Risen Lord with everyone. Amen
First reading
Acts 14:19-28 ·
They gave an account of how God had opened the door of faith to the pagansSome Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium, and turned the people against the apostles. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the town, thinking he was dead. The disciples came crowding round him but, as they did so, he stood up and went back to the town. The next day he and Barnabas went off to Derbe.
Having preached the Good News in that town and made a considerable number of disciples, they went back through Lystra and Iconium to Antioch. They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. ‘We all have to experience many hardships’ they said ‘before we enter the kingdom of God.’ In each of these churches they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.
They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. Then after proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia and from there sailed for Antioch, where they had originally been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans. They stayed there with the disciples for some time.
Gospel
John 14:27-31
A peace the world cannot give is my gift to youJesus said to his disciples:‘Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me say: I am going away, and shall return.
If you loved me you would have been glad to know that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
I have told you this now before it happens,
so that when it does happen you may believe.
I shall not talk with you any longer,
because the prince of this world is on his way.
He has no power over me, but the world must be brought to know that I love the Father and that I am doing exactly what the Father told me.’
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