“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.” (ACTS 11: 21-24)
We are people of faith; we were filled with the Holy Spirit at our Baptism and Confirmation, “upgraded” with the Sacrament of Matrimony (or Priesthood), so what we need to be like St. Barnabas is to be a “good people.” It is about gentleness, respect and being a gift of self; it is about protecting our identity and communicating with respect and understanding and being grateful for everything. Being “a good man” is doable, and we can start with good words to our relatives and with a smile to people we pass by.
“Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. (Gospel Acclamation)
“All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” (ACTS 1: 14)
She knows Our Lord like no one else—She is His mother. They spent 30 years together, and She was His best follower. Because She not only knows Him but also loves Him in a very unique way, She can be our teacher, our adviser and our help. Our Lord made Her also our Mother.
“O happy Virgin, you gave birth to the Lord; O blessed mother of the Church, you warm our hearts with the Spirit of your Son Jesus Christ.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, ‘Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?’” (ACTS 2: 6-8)
“In his own language”—how detailed and protective is God’s love. He knows how different we are, what different experiences and family backgrounds we have; He knows about our wounds and rejections, our pains but also about our joys. He loves us, so He speaks to our hearts with gentleness and respect, always more focused on us than on Himself. He loves.
“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” (ACTS 28: 30-31)
Our homes and even rented apartments or “lodgings” could be places of evangelization, not just our churches or catechism classes at schools. We are all invited to proclaim the Gospel. We encounter different challenges—from our small children to difficult teenagers; from nice, open minded neighbors to closed homes with very strong gates; everywhere is a space for “proclaiming the Kingdom of God.”
“I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will guide you to all truth.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“His accusers stood around him, but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected. Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive.” (ACTS 25: 18-19)
The way we answer this question can change the world. For believers—Our Lord is alive, present, helping and protecting us and this world; for non-believers—He is a myth and there is no life after life. It is not easy for us to believe surrounded by people, institutions and life styles which ignore Our Lord’s presence, but we believe and He helps.
“The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all I told you.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. ” (JN 17: 24)
This is a basic dream for everyone who loves—to be united and to be connected, never separated, and when separation is necessary (like all kinds of missions)—just for a reasonable time. When we are parents, we know that one day our children will start their independent lives, but we hope that their choices will be based on good values and that we will be close to each other, even when far away in distance. Our Lord wants us in Heaven, together with His Father and the Holy Spirit, because He loves us.
“May they all be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that the world may believe that you sent me, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.” (JN 17: 11)
We know perfectly well how important unity is. It is so crucial for couples and for parents, for friends and consecrated, for siblings and for teams. We experience so many differences, and our hunger for unity is even bigger; God knows it and He prays for this. He can help us to be one. The beginning is quite simple—try to be one with Him: in your prayers, in your thoughts, in your actions.
“Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” (JN 17: 3)
“Eternal life” doesn’t begins after our death. Eternal life starts when we know and we believe in “the only true God, and the one whom He sent, Jesus Christ.” Every day is a new occasion to celebrate our eternal life.
“I will ask the father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They answered him, ‘We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ He said, ‘How were you baptized?’ They replied, ‘With the baptism of John.’” (ACTS 19: 2-3)
Every day we can learn something new about our faith. In a very special way, every retreat is a very special occasion to grow in our relationship with God and in our relationship with our spouses. When we go deeper into our faith, we can go deeper in our understanding of our vocations and our identity.
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.” (LK 24: 50-51)
Our Lord is in heaven, but also “is with us always, until the end of the world.” The paradox is possible only for Him and those who belong to Him and to heaven—our saints. We are never alone and never abandoned.
“Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world.” (Gospel Acclamation)
