Thursday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time
First Reading
Acts 11:21–26; 13:1–3
A great number believed and were converted to the Lord.
The church in Jerusalem heard about this and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. There he could see for himself that God had given grace, and this pleased him, and he urged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with heartfelt devotion; for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. And a large number of people were won over to the Lord.
Barnabas then left for Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. As things turned out they were to live together in that church a whole year, instructing a large number of people. It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
In the church at Antioch the following were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
One day while they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping a fast, the Holy Spirit said,
“I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them.”
So it was that after fasting and prayer they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 97(98):1–6
The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing a new song to the Lord
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation.
The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love
for the house of Israel.
The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
ring out your joy.
The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp
with the sound of music.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
acclaim the King, the Lord.
The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Gospel
Matthew 5:20–26
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court.
But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother ‘Fool’ he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him ‘Renegade’ he will answer for it in hell fire.
So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering.
Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison.
I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.”
Reflection
Today's readings reveal that holiness is measured not merely by belief, but by transformation.
Barnabas arrives in Antioch and witnesses something remarkable. He sees God's grace at work among the people and responds not with jealousy, control, or self-promotion, but with encouragement. Scripture describes him simply and powerfully: "a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith."
That description is worth reflecting upon.
The Church remembers Barnabas not because he sought recognition, but because he helped others flourish. He recognised God's work in people and encouraged them to remain faithful. He sought out Saul, later known as Paul, and helped him enter into the mission God had prepared for him.
True Christian leadership does not draw attention to itself. It points others towards Christ.
The Gospel takes us deeper.
Jesus moves beyond external actions and examines the heart itself. The commandment against murder is not abolished; it is intensified. Christ teaches that anger, contempt, and bitterness can wound the soul long before any outward action occurs.
The Catechism teaches that deliberate hatred is contrary to charity and that anger becomes sinful when it seeks harm or refuses forgiveness (CCC 2302-2303).
This is challenging because many of us can avoid serious outward sins while quietly nurturing resentment within.
Jesus refuses to separate worship from relationships.
In one of the strongest teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, He declares that reconciliation takes priority even over bringing an offering to the altar. Before presenting ourselves before God, we are called to seek peace with one another whenever possible.
This does not mean every relationship can be perfectly restored. Some wounds are deep. Some situations remain complicated. Yet the disciple of Christ must never become comfortable with hatred, bitterness, or contempt.
Barnabas built bridges.
Jesus calls us to build bridges.
The Holy Spirit sends Barnabas and Saul into the world because the Gospel is ultimately a ministry of reconciliation. Christ Himself came to reconcile humanity with God, and those who follow Him share in that mission.
The question for today is simple:
Is there someone I need to forgive?
Is there someone I need to encourage?
Is there a relationship where God is inviting me to take the first step?
The Kingdom grows whenever grace replaces resentment and reconciliation triumphs over division.
One line to carry today
Lord, give me the heart of Barnabas and the courage to seek reconciliation.
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