Acts of the Apostles 12:24- 13:5
St Luke shows us in our first reading today, that despite the persecutions and obstacles to Christianity that the Word of God is spreading rapidly and bearing much fruit.
St Paul is set apart with St Barnabas, the cousin of Mark the Evangelist. They are to go the biggest Island in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus. St Barnabas was born there. In Acts 11: 24 we are told that “he is a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith”
He goes to Cyprus with St Paul circa Ad 45. We note that this is in obedience to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We see the importance and role of fasting together with prayer, to possess that discernment and insight, to be able to distinguish between their own human spirit’s inspirations and the Holy Spirit’s initiatives. Their deep and solid faith allows them to respond with complete trust and surrender.
They land at Salamis, the main city and port of Cyprus and because of their fidelity to God, they spend two fruitful years there, bringing many new followers to the Lord.
“It is not hard to obey when we love the one whom we obey.”
St. Ignatius of Loyola
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.