On this day as I celebrate another year, alive in the Lord; I take a moment to reflect on a fundamental question I have asked and answered, again anew. A renewal of mind, body and spirit if you will.
What is faith? What is my faith?
It is a divine grace and gift of God our Heavenly Father to me that I have come to believe wholeheartedly. That is in the birth, death, resurrection, ascension, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for love of me.
What I have is NOT a blind faith! But one in which I see, hear, touch, smell, and experience through the one whom I love and worship. His intimate presence has brought me deeper into the depths, breadths and heights of Him who loves me! Prophecies for me and my life spoken through the lips of my brethren, has lifted me high above Heaven. I am affirmed, encouraged and empowered.
I pray with a grateful heart, that You Lord, continue to Bless and anoint me. That I may go forth boldly proclaiming Your love to all this and everyday of my life. Amen
So, let me ask you the same question I asked myself? What is it to be a light in the world? How are you doing it right now! That is not aspiring to be this light….but living as a light in the world?
How many neighbours, friends who are Christians are encouraged by you to remain faithful to the Lord with heartfelt devotion? How many see look upon you and see that you are man or woman of God filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith?
How many lives have you touched by ministering to them, that they have been brought out from the darkness and into the light of Christ Jesus our Lord? How many have come to believe through you, in the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and outpouring of the Holy Spirit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
How many souls have you saved from the clutches of evil? How many have been healed by Jesus through you ministering to them? How many have been led to the joy of community in Christ, by your living action and testimony in faith?
Lord Jesus grant me the faith and boldness of St Barnabas so that like Him, I will lead many souls to You. Let me be Your light in the world. Amen
Saint Barnabas, pray for us…
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First reading
Acts 11:21-26,13:1-3
He was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith
A great number believed and were converted to the Lord.
The church in Jerusalem heard about this and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. There he could see for himself that God had given grace, and this pleased him, and he urged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with heartfelt devotion; for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. And a large number of people were won over to the Lord.
Barnabas then left for Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. As things turned out they were to live together in that church a whole year, instructing a large number of people. It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians.’
In the church at Antioch the following were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. One day while they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping a fast, the Holy Spirit said, ‘I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them.’ So it was that after fasting and prayer they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
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Gospel
Matthew 5:13-16
Your light must shine in the sight of men
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.
‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’
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