When (Paul and
Barnabas) arrived (in Antioch), they called the Church together and reported
what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the
Gentiles. Then they spent no little time with the disciples. (Acts 14:27-28)
Your friends make known, O
Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom. (Psalm 145:12)
“If you loved me, you would
rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28)
Piety
Lord, help
me to be conscious of and present to the importance of spending time with Your
people.
Study
Luke’s Acts of the Apostles is, as one
might infer from the title, full of action. It’s almost like an
action-adventure movie as the disciples go from one place to another,
converting souls, encountering persecution, evangelizing again and again and
again to Jews and Gentiles.
Then there are the quiet moments, the
ones we may read over a bit too quickly as the narrative moves on to the next
great event. In today’s first reading, Paul and Barnabas are on the move for
the Lord, traveling from city to city in Turkey and Greece before returning to
Antioch. There, they spend “no little time” with the other disciples. Can’t you
just imagine this group, sharing stories with each other, catching up on the
news, inquiring about each others’ health and families? Of course there would
have been some lively discussion about where this new faith was headed; the Council
of Jerusalem would follow. But time also would have been spent recharging their
spiritual batteries, if you will. Evangelizing is invigorating, challenging…
and tiring. What a gift to again be with people who shared the same fire and
beliefs, to be fed as well as to feed.
From the earliest days, this Church
understood the importance of community. There’s only so much we can do for the
Lord when we’re bone tired and brain dead. May we all find communities in our
parishes and our ministries that replenish and fortify us as we soldier on,
spreading the Good News.
Action
Write a thank-you note to someone who
is present and available when you need to recharge your spiritual battery.
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