Ambassador

The WORD today reminds me  how important and powerful being sent by God is. 

Ambassadors are very important diplomats. They act in behalf of their president. they represent their country. In the same way, when we do God’s work, in essence we are being ambassadors for Christ. We are acting for God. We are representing God. That is why it is a very important role. This is why it is a powerful role. The prophet Isaiah knows this, and we can see his willingness and readiness to serve God. In Isaiah 6:8, when God asked whom he shall send, Isaiah readily volunteered himself  - Here I am! Send me!

God needs human ambassadors to do his work

 In the first reading, we see how Barnabas and Saul actively worked as Jesus’ ambassadors when they proclaimed the good news of salvation to different places. They were willing to go wherever God wanted them to. God needs human beings to spread his love and proclaim his kingdom to others. Actually, this is for us humans – that we may feel God’s love become alive through others.

We are all called to be ambassadors for Christ. In our simple ways, in the way we live and treat others, we become his ambassadors. We need not explicitly preach the gospel and tell the people about God. Sometimes, or a lot of times, a more powerful testimony is how we live our lives. As St Francis of Assissi once said, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.”

Nowadays, we need more ambassadors for Christ. There are a lot of bad news. Evil people in power. Abusive decisions. We need to be more active in doing God’s work and reminding people that God is still here. He is still alive. And he is still taking care of us. We need ti make him alive and remind people of him bu our lives. 

Sharing a quote from Corey Brooker. May it inspire and challenge us:

Don't speak to me about your religion;

first show it to me in how you treat other people. 

Don't tell me how much you love your God;

show me in how much you love all God's children.

Don't preach to me your passion for your faith;

teach me through your compassion for your neighbors. 

In the end, I'm not as interested in what you have  to tell or sell

as I am in how you choose to live and give

Do I realize that God is sending me as an ambassador for him? How do I respond? Do I live in a way pleasing to him? Does my life reflect his love and goodness? 

May we be willing ambassadors of God and allow Him to send us. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another chance to experience your love. Thank you for another chance to share your love. Lord, thank you for the reminder. Thank you for telling me that you need me to be an ambassador for you. Lord, sorry for the times I am not willing. Sorry for the times I do not step out of my comfort zone for you. help me live up to it, Lord. I will do my best to live a good life for you. I will do my best to live right, so people can see how great and loving the God I am serving is. Magnify my actions so that It may glorify you. Send me and use me as you please. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

June 11, 2020

Saint Barnabas, Apostle; St. Barnabas

FIRST READING

Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3

In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people was added to the Lord. Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the Church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. 

Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

R. (see 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power. 

Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. 

R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power. 

The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. 

R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power. 

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. 

R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power. 

Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song. With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the LORD. 

R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

ALLELUIA

Matthew 28:19a, 20b

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

John 21:20-25

Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? 

You follow me.” 

So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?” 

It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.