Today, 22nd of June, we celebrate
Saint Paulinus of Nola and
Saints John Fisher and Thomas More.
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11
Brothers and sisters:
Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.
Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit
for anything as coming from us;
rather, our qualification comes from God,
who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant,
not of letter but of spirit;
for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life.
Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious
that the children of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses
because of its glory that was going to fade,
how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious?
For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious,
the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory.
Indeed, what was endowed with glory
has come to have no glory in this respect
because of the glory that surpasses it.
For if what was going to fade was glorious,
how much more will what endures be glorious.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 99:5, 6, 7, 8, 9
R./ Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the Lord, our God,
and worship at his footstool;
holy is he!
R./ Holy is the Lord our God.
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
R./ Holy is the Lord our God.
From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.
R./ Holy is the Lord our God.
O Lord, our God, you answered them;
a forgiving God you were to them,
though requiting their misdeeds.
R./ Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the Lord, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the Lord, our God.
R./ Holy is the Lord our God.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven."
This passage can be a bit hard to digest. Is Jesus telling us that to follow him we have to be perfect Jews, following every single law and rule? I don’t think so. What Jesus says is that he didn’t come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. That’s the key. Jesus invites us to take a step forward. It’s not about canceling the law, but about going beyond it. With Jesus, there’s a new law—one that includes and goes beyond the old one.
Maybe it helps to remember that scene where a man asks Jesus what he needs to do to gain eternal life (Matthew 10:17–25). Jesus calmly asks if he has followed the commandments. The man says yes. Then Jesus takes it a step further. That’s not enough, he says. The man needs to do one more thing: sell all his belongings, give the money to the poor, and then follow Jesus. In other words: he needs to let go of whatever holds him back, travel light, and become a disciple—ready to walk a new path, not ruled by commandments, but guided by the Kingdom.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is inviting us to take that same step. To move beyond rules and laws and step into a new way of living. It’s what Saint Augustine meant when he said, “Love and do what you will.” Here’s a simple example: we can go to Mass on Sunday because it’s a Church rule—or we can go to Mass because it’s a joyful chance to be with our brothers and sisters in faith, to listen to God’s Word together, and to share in the Eucharist. Same action—but a completely different attitude.
We can live our Christian life constantly asking, “Is this a sin or not?” Or we can live asking, “What can I do to build more just and loving relationships?”—in short, how can I help bring the Kingdom to life in my world and for the people around me? The first way keeps us stuck in the law. The second is the step forward—into the fullness of the Kingdom.
Fernando Torres, cmfIntroduction
St. Paul owed very much to this missionary, for Barnabas involved Paul in his work among the Christians of Antioch, who were of pagan origin. Acts called Barnabas "a prophet and teacher" and "a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith." He was an open spirit, convinced that if one had faith it was enough to let one become eligible to be a Christian. Inspired by the Spirit, the leaders of the community of Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas on their missionary mission.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
prompted by the Holy Spirit,
the church of Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas
on their missionary mission among pagans.
Let your Church everywhere send
good, zealous men and women as missionaries.
Fill them with the Holy Spirit and with faith,
that they may touch the hearts of people
and win them as disciples and friends
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
let the eucharist of Jesus
bring the light and life of your Son and his zeal
to our communities everywhere
to make them missionary
by the way they live
and to make Christ visible to people.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God of all people,
at the celebration of St. Barnabas we pray:
Make all your missionaries
people of the Holy Spirit and of deep faith,
that they may speak to the people you send them
the words of life and joy of the good news
and cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse those unclean and cast out evil.
May they do so generously, without charge,
for they have received from you without charge
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Saint BARNABAS, Apostles
Memorial
Introduction
St. Paul owed very much to this missionary, for Barnabas involved Paul in his work among the Christians of Antioch, who were of pagan origin. Acts called Barnabas "a prophet and teacher" and "a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith." He was an open spirit, convinced that if one had faith it was enough to let one become eligible to be a Christian. Inspired by the Spirit, the leaders of the community of Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas on their missionary mission.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
prompted by the Holy Spirit,
the church of Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas
on their missionary mission among pagans.
Let your Church everywhere send
good, zealous men and women as missionaries.
Fill them with the Holy Spirit and with faith,
that they may touch the hearts of people
and win them as disciples and friends
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God,
let the eucharist of Jesus
bring the light and life of your Son and his zeal
to our communities everywhere
to make them missionary
by the way they live
and to make Christ visible to people.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God of all people,
at the celebration of St. Barnabas we pray:
Make all your missionaries
people of the Holy Spirit and of deep faith,
that they may speak to the people you send them
the words of life and joy of the good news
and cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse those unclean and cast out evil.
May they do so generously, without charge,
for they have received from you without charge
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
