| First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: | Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3 Psalm 98:1-6 Matthew 10:7-13 |
Acts 11:22 News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
This is a very interesting passage. Clearly the Spirit goes where it wills. The "church" doesn't have sole authority to facilitate the work of the Holy Spirit. Yet, when the church heard about the conversion of the people they sent apostles to them.
Today the Spirit works in many different communities and peoples. But does the "church" send people to them? This I fear is a concept that we have lost. How can the "church" send people? Who is the church and who are the people?
It is my observation that we are more willing to draw lines of division and exclude the new converts than we are to embrace them and sanctify them. Like wise, then new converts seem more willing to flex their own spiritual muscles, or lack there of, and refuse the blessing of the "church", thinking they are above that.
There is a certain humility and grace in this passage that we have all but lost today. This, perhaps, is one of the biggest tragedies of the church of today. Maybe this is part of what Jesus meant when he asked if he would find faith when he returned.
Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to always, in humility, appreciate that I don't decide who the Christians are, but you do. Help me to serve to work towards unity in the body rather than to help facilitate the division.
Amen
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