Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Reflections Saturday June 11 2022
Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Reflection
Saturday June 11, 2022
Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle
Reading I: Acts 11:21b-26; 12:1-3
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. And a large number of people was added to the Lord. Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the Church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off.
Responsorial Psalm: 98:1,2-3ab,3cd-4,5-6
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
1. Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.
2. The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel.
3. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise.
4. Sing praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
Alleluia: Ps 119:36a,29b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees; and favor me with your law.
Gospel: Mt 5:33-37
Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One.”
Catholic Daily Reflections Saturday June 11 2022
In this Gospel Jesus instructs us to “say what we mean and mean what we say.” Jesus desires that we simply be who we are. Today he tells his disciples: “Do not take a false oath.” Jesus also tells his disciples (and us) to “follow through” on what they have said they will do. Often this is not as easy as it sounds. We need to do this not only with the people in our lives but also we need to follow through in our relationship with Jesus.
However, it is not always easy to always have our “yes” truly come from our hearts. Can you remember a time when you told someone yes when you honestly wanted to say no? I suspect we all have done this. If you say yes to someone, do you typically follow through with what you promised to do? When we say yes to someone is it a wholehearted “yes” or is it more of a “maybe?”
Jesus desires that we be women and men of integrity, even in the small things. At times, the small things may seem insignificant. However, when we follow through on the small things, trust in our relationships grow and deepen. The reality is that most of us do not automatically trust every person we meet. It takes time to trust another person. In a sense, we have to prove that we are trustworthy. And if a individual follows through on what they say they will do, we begin to trust them.
Trust is a great gift: both to give and to receive. Trust is a gift that grows as individuals come to know each other. Ask yourself: who are the individuals in your life that you trust? Who is the person you trust most deeply? Now ask yourself: Do I trust God? How deep is my trust in God? Take a few moments to ponder these questions.
Has life dealt you a blow that has affected your trust in God? If so, most likely you are not alone. Our trust in God typically is affected by painful or difficult situations in our lives. For many of us, it almost is automatic to blame God for the bad things that happen in our lives. After all, God is all-powerful. When we experience frightening or difficult situations in our lives, our trust in God may become fragile. And we may find it difficult to rebuild our trust in God. Hopefully, in time, we will trust God once again.
Today I also invite you to remember and thank God for the many ways that God has sustained you, carried you and enveloped you in God’s wondrous and never-ending love. This is a gift we receive every moment of every day. May we also give thanks for the individuals in our lives who by their love and concern for us, also manifest God’s love and care for us. These individuals also are a great gift.
Today may we consciously give the gift of love to everyone we encounter. It may be as simple as a smile, a compliment or simply noticing them! Also take notice of the people who gift you with God’s love. What a small, yet great gift!
