4th week in Easter Time, Tuesday – 23rd April 2024 – Acts 11,19-26; Jn 10,22-30
Unfolding of God’s Plan
The first reading presents the story of the Church being founded in Antioch in Syria. It narrates how the early Christians grew beyond Jerusalem and reached out to the Gentiles. The persecution that followed Stephen’s martyrdom spread the Gospel to the Greek speaking Christians in many directions. Since many Greeks believed and converted to the Lord, the Jerusalem Church decided to send Barnabas to Antioch, to encourage new believers. Barnabas saw the grace of God at work in the Gentiles. He boldly proclaimed as he was “filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith.” During his ministry in Antioch, a large number of people were added to the Lord. Therefore, he decided to seek the help of another Greek-speaking Christian, Saul of Tarsus, who was in his hometown after his conversion. Barnabas brought Saul to Antioch and both taught there for a whole year. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, God’s plan to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles was unfolding. In this plan, God included the joining hands of two Gentile preachers.
