Feast of St. Barnabas the Apostle
Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3
In those days, a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. Read More
“Even if your sins were as repulsive as mud, your confidence and your love will make Me forget them, so you will not be judged! I am just, it is true, but love pays for everything!” (Father’s message to Sr. Eugenia Ravasio).
Our Father speaks here of grave and repugnant sins, which perhaps we ourselves find it difficult to forgive. Not infrequently it happens that people, once they recognize the magnitude of their faults, fall into despair and are unable to forgive themselves. Thus, they block their own lives and, despite having received God’s forgiveness, sin continues to cast its shadow over them. Read More
Mt 5:1-12
Seeing the crowds, he went onto the mountain. And when he was seated his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them: How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance. Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill. Read More
“I am the best of Fathers! I know My creatures’ weaknesses! Come to Me, come with confidence and love! I will forgive you after you have repented” (Father’s message to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).
It is that simple… That is how simple God’s love is offered to us day by day.
It was God who took upon Himself our faults, nailing them to the Cross. He carried all our sufferings and sins to Mount Calvary. Read More
“Nothing is difficult if you love God” (Venerable Anne de Guigné).
This sentence of a young French saint hits the nail on the head. It is love that transforms everything. In fact, it was love that brought us salvation, because “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (Jn 3:16). Read More
Mk 3:20-35
He went home again, and once more such a crowd collected that they could not even have a meal. When his relations heard of this, they set out to take charge of him; they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’ The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘Beelzebul is in him,’ and, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he drives devils out.’ So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never last. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot last either – it is the end of him.
Lk 2:41-51
Every year the parents of Jesus used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual. When the days of the feast were over and they set off home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it. They assumed he was somewhere in the party, and it was only after a day’s journey that they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances. When they failed to find him they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere. It happened that, three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions; and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies.
“Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Eph 6:18).
With this last exhortation of the Holy Apostle, we conclude our little series on the armor of God.
“Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph 6:17).
Once again, our Father provides us with everything we need for the hard battle. As a helmet, He offers us the salvation in Christ.
Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8-9
When Israel was a child I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I myself took them by the arm, but they did not know that I was the one caring for them, that I was leading them with human ties, with leading-strings of love, that, with them, I was like someone lifting an infant to his cheek, and that I bent down to feed him. Ephraim, how could I part with you? Israel, how could I give you up? How could I make you like Admah or treat you like Zeboiim? My heart within me is overwhelmed, fever grips my inmost being. I will not give rein to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God, not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I shall not come to you in anger. Read More
