+ The first reading shows how the Good News began to emanate and
spread from a small circle, to a great number – beginning with the
Jewish people – as was logical – for them to come to know that Jesus indeed was
the Messiah and redeemer that they had been waiting for – but then to the
Gentile people who was visited by the same Spirit that fell on the Apostles and
many others on the day of Pentecost. It simply visited them – for God can do
his own “evangelization” if he wanted to – personally.
Not only that – God was also
selecting certain pairs of personnel to be his witnesses and instruments in the
“rounding up of the Lost Sheep of Israel, and then everyone else in the world
who would be willing to be rounded up!” So, Barnabas, found himself going to
Antioch, being sent there by the church of Jerusalem – shortly after Pentecost.
He was a man filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith: and large numbers came
to the Lord through his preaching and display of genuine care and concern for
them.
Then the Lord sent him to
Tarsus to look for Saul – a former great persecutor of newborn followers of The
Way, followers of Christ. They were thus paired up and used as a “spiritual
dynamic duo” in attracting new members to the Mystical Body of Christ. They
lived together in Antioch for a year. And it was there that the disciples they
were gathering were first called by the term “Christians!”
The Lord still can call his
chosen instruments to pair up, to live together, and by their connection with
Him, and the Father’s providential plan, to minister with great enthusiasm and
joy to a specific group of persons daily who need to be gotten to for life, for
love, for salvation: the Joyful Servants of the Cross are such a dynamic
pairing. And so me, and my co-founder were brought together from the distance
of many thousands of mile, we lived together a monastic lifestyle for 12 and a
half years – gaining the experience needed to “spread joy, hope and peace
wherever we went” for the purification and perfection of the Church on earth,
and the spiritual transformation of the world into the glorious kingdom of God
in heaven!” This we have faithfully done by doing what we do, living our own
primary callings and states in life of priest and nurse.
And now that my cofounder has
been called to the fullness of life – having “become eternal” – transitioning
to the state of life without the body – since February 5th of this
year – our congregation is beginning a new period of solidity, growth and
helpfulness to the Good Shepherd would continues to round up those who would be
rounded up for life in the kingdom.
New members are being added to
the group – and a whole new dimension of spiritual rest and respite, education
and refinement is now being offered at our Abbey/Hermitage, as we continue to
do what Jesus did in the gospel passage today: tell anyone who would listen, HE
IS THE CHRIST! HE IS THE SON OF MAN! HE IS THE SON OF GOD! turn from what you
were doing – and turn to him – embrace him who outstretches his arms to embrace
you in a deep and tender loving embrace – and never let go! until you are safe in
the Kingdom prepared for you!
We are children of God! We are
CHILDREN OF GOD! let us praise him and thank him both now and forever!
Amen.
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