We have reached the point in the Acts of the Apostles where Paul and Barnabas begin their life as itinerant missionaries, moving from community to community to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to establish Christian communities in the villages, towns and cities that they visit. Later they will retrace their steps and return to these communities to encourage them and to reinvigorate them by telling of their success with the neighbors of these communities.
In the course of their travels they meet with opposition and suffer. They are persecuted, stoned, exiled, and left for dead. However, they pick themselves up, go elsewhere and continue to preach the Good News.
Their ability to do this is a result of the gift of peace of which Jesus speaks in the Gospel passage for this day.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27)
If we are honest with ourselves, we must all admit that we have been afraid from time to time in our life. However, if we are able to remember that Jesus is with us in every circumstance, we can often overcome that fear and move forward confident that we will be able to accomplish whatever has been asked of us. Paul and Barnabas are examples for us in the face of persecution, danger, and even threats to their lives.
Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator