Encouragement and Faith
June 11, Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle
Daily Readings: Acts 11:21B-26; 13:1-3; Matthew 5:13-16
Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Barnabas, an early follower of Jesus and leader in the early Church. His story is recounted in the Acts of the Apostles and mentioned in Paul's letters. Originally named Joseph, he was called Barnabas, meaning "son of encouragement."
The first reading illustrates why Barnabas was called the son of encouragement. When he went to Antioch, he saw the grace of God, rejoiced, and encouraged everyone to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast hearts.
In today's Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. He challenges them to let their light shine before others so that people may see their good deeds and glorify the heavenly Father.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: Just like St. Barnabas, who is honored today as the son of encouragement, we are called to inspire and uplift others. Barnabas was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. Many who encountered him were converted, and a large number of people believed in the Lord.
Let us follow the example of St. Barnabas and strive to be sources of encouragement and faith for those around us.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.