Guided by the Spirit: the mission and growth of the Church
April 24, 2024 - Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Acts 12:24—13:5a; Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; John 12:44-50
Our first reading begins with a statement that "The word of God continued to spread and grow" (Acts 12:24). Psalm 67 celebrates the abundant harvest as a manifestation of God's blessing upon Israel. The Acts of the Apostles celebrates the growth of the Church that, like a tiny mustard seed, began to grow into a big tree. Nothing seems to stop the growth of the Church.
Saint Luke introduces us to the beginning of the mission of Barnabas and Paul in the territory of Asia Minor. He makes it clear that behind that mission is the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: "the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them'" (Acts 13:2). The author also tells us that their missionary strategy was to go first to the Jews living among the Gentiles and proclaim the Gospel to them. But they also knew that among the Jews were many God-fearing Gentiles who, like in Antioch, could be receptive to the message of the Gospel.
An ancient Israelite knew that the abundance of the harvest served as a testament to God's mercy and favor upon Israel. Despite human labor, much depended on favorable weather conditions and timely rainfall, which were under the control of the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth. The first Christians also knew that the growth of the Church served as a testament to God's mercy. Paul explained it in his letter to the Corinthians in this way: "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow" (1 Cor. 3:6-7).
Our God is the Lord of creation and the Lord of history. The Lord rules and guides the nations of the earth (Psalm 67:5) and He guides the mission of the Church. Together with the psalmist, we hope that all people will praise the Lord. Jesus is the Light of the world and He alone can bring humanity out of darkness into His wonderful light. In Jesus, humanity can recognize the face of the Father. He “is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, [and] by him all things were created” (Col. 1:15-16).
The island of Cyprus was Barnabas’ homeland and Salamis was the largest town in the eastern part of the island. Barnabas and Paul, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, made the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the light of the world, known to its citizens. Today, we are called to follow in their footsteps and become the vessels of the Holy Spirit to transmit the Gospel of Christ to the people of our world.