It was no small task for St. Barnabas to go to Tarsus and "look for Saul" (Acts 11:25). To journey the 150 miles from Antioch to Tarsus, and then return to Antioch required weeks of travel. Once Barnabas arrived at Tarsus, he had to search diligently for Saul (also known as Paul) in the days before GPS, text messaging, phone calls, etc. Tarsus was a large city, estimated by some scholars to contain over 100,000 people, and it could have taken quite some time for Barnabas to locate Paul in Tarsus.
Sts. Paul and Barnabas taught the members of the Church in Antioch for a year, likely involving daily Scripture study (Acts 11:26). This year in the Word of God changed the members of the Church in Antioch so profoundly that they had a name-change to "Christians" (Acts 11:26).
God encourages us through His Word (see Sir 17:19) and through people like St. Barnabas and St. Paul, who teach us the Faith and His Word (Acts 11:23). May you encourage many and lead them to a strong faith. "Encourage one another" (Heb 10:25).
My son and his fianceé discerned to read through the Bible daily in the year leading up to their wedding date. They will have a strong foundation for their married life together. Would you commit to a daily, year-long Bible Study?
| PRAYER: | Father, may I love Your Word so much that I devour it and consider it my joy and happiness (Jer 15:16). |
| PROMISE: | "The gift you have received, give as a gift." –Mt 10:8 |
| PRAISE: | "There was a certain Levite from Cyprus named Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (meaning 'son of encouragement')" (Acts 4:36). Father, make us encouragers too. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College