First Reading: Acts 11:19-26
They began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Those who had been scattered by the persecution
that arose because of Stephen
went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to no one but Jews.
There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however,
who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well,
proclaiming the Lord Jesus.
The hand of the Lord was with them
and 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.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7
R./ All you nations, praise the Lord. or: Alleluia.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
R./ All you nations, praise the Lord. or: Alleluia.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon
among those who know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:
"This man was born there."
And of Zion they shall say:
"One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD."
R./ All you nations, praise the Lord. or: Alleluia.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
"This man was born there."
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
"My home is within you."
R./ All you nations, praise the Lord. or: Alleluia.
Gospel Reading: John 10:22-30
The Father and I are one.
The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem.
It was winter.
And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,
"How long are you going to keep us in suspense?
If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe.
The works I do in my Father's name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father's hand.
The Father and I are one."
Dear friend,
One of the key messages that came from the most recent Council of our Catholic Church is this: the purpose of the Church is not itself, but to love, to serve, and to evangelize. This is the mission we all share as Catholics, each from our own calling and way of life. From the very beginning, many evangelizers lived this out, like those who fled after the death of Stephen. As the Acts of the Apostles tells us today, they preached the Risen Jesus in places like Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch—without fear, with conviction, but without arrogance.
In many of today’s cultural spaces—our modern “Areopagus”—there are efforts to silence anything related to religious belief or practice, as if faith belonged only to the private sphere. Let’s not accept that—because it isn’t true. Faith has a public dimension and a right to be expressed—not hidden; to be heard—not silenced. Faith is both personal and public, because it proposes values, denounces injustices, and has something meaningful to say. Yet in many places, it’s no longer “politically correct” for a famous athlete, singer, politician, or actor to speak openly about their beliefs—or even their lack of belief. So let’s be politically incorrect if we must, and share our faith without fear, but always with a spirit of dialogue, in the everyday public spaces of our lives: at work, with friends, during our free time…
Today’s Gospel from John again reminds us of Jesus as the Good Shepherd—the one who calls His sheep by name and cares for them, even to the point of giving His life. With a Shepherd like that watching over us, what do we have to fear? Keep working, keep moving forward, and trust—because this Shepherd watches over you as He did the first disciples, as He has done with countless believers throughout history, and as He will continue to do with all who listen to His voice.
Today we also remember the Virgin Mary under her title of Our Lady of Fátima. She is a powerful intercessor—and more than that, she is the great woman who knew how to wait on the great day of hope: Holy Saturday. She trusted that love is always stronger than death, and that the death of her Son could not be the end. Let us also bring to her our hope and patience in the face of difficult situations, together with the thousands of pilgrims who gather today to pray in that small Portuguese village.
Our Lady of Fátima, pray for us.
Your brother in faith,
Juan Lozano, CMFIntroduction
The Christians of Antioch, the first to be called “Christians” as disciples of Christ, were of two kinds: those Greek-speaking of Jewish origin, who had fled to Antioch from the persecuted Church in Jerusalem. They communicated their faith to their fellow Jews, but they must have spoken of their faith in Christ also to some people of pagan roots who accepted Christ, now no longer as the promised Messiah but as the Lord of all. This placed the Church in a dilemma. Were these marginal Christians only second-class followers of Christ? Barnabas, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognized God’s grace at work in them. Where the official Church of Jerusalem hesitates, Barnabas reads the signs of the times. To him, it is God’s will that these people accept Christ as their Lord. He faces and solves the missionary problems locally and is not afraid to go new ways.
Opening Prayer
Lord God, our Father,
the Spirit of Jesus calls us, as he called your Son,
to abandon our old selves and our old world
to be free for new life and growth.
Forgive us our fear and hesitations,
lead us out of our worn-out phrases and habits,
and our self-made certainties,
steep us in the Gospel of your Son,
that his Good News may become credible
in our times and our world.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.
General Intercessions
Let us pray today for the missionary Church and say: Lord, hear our prayer.
– That the Church may never tire of preaching Christ as the Risen Lord, we pray:
– That the Church may never tire of asking the Lord to make it ever new and to be attentive to the signs of the times, we pray:
– That Christians may live in such a way that their life of faith attracts people to Christ, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Loving Father,
the bread and the wine on this table
speak to us of a journey into the future
to go together with your Son.
Change us as you change these gifts,
and transform us into the image of your Son.
Make us into people who dare to stand up
to speak your message without fear
in the language our times understand,
people who have the courage
to go new ways when demanded,
yet always loyal to your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord forever.
Prayer after Communion
Loving Father,
we are glad that we are called Christians,
men and women who follow Christ, your Son.
May we remain faithful to him
with a steadfast commitment
and fill us with the grace of the Lord,
that the Holy Spirit may live in us
and that we too may bring many to the Lord
and be worthy of the name
of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
May the grace of God be at work in us to keep us faithful with steadfast commitment, that we may be true disciples of Christ. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
