In John’s Gospel, Jesus clearly states that his word is the word of God, “and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.” The Father commands everything he says; these commandments are the way to salvation and eternal life.

This good news has settled so warmly and deeply into the hearts and minds of the apostles and disciples of Jesus, set afire by the coming of the Holy Spirit. And back to Jerusalem comes Saul – still not called by his Roman name, Paul – a new convert hosted by Barnabas. Saul’s reception by the Christian community was probably still a bit cool: he had left the city as a zealous tool of the Sanhedrin, charged with arresting Jewish heretics: any convert to the teachings of Jesus.

Saul is quite open to Barnabas’ invitation to visit and preach to the Christians in Antioch, hundreds of miles north but near Tarsus, Saul’s hometown. Acts 12 – 13 describes a vibrant community of converts, Jews and Gentiles who welcomed Saul, supported his work, blessed him, and sent him off for this first missionary journey and two more. What fun for Saul to begin this long, scary, and challenging trip with a sea voyage to Cyprus! It was not fun: being on deck in any weather for the entire trip, sailing in daylight only, and hugging the coast when possible because “blue water” sailing with no land in sight was just terrifying. You may imagine the perils of travel on land, though the Romans built great roads. Many treks were through a desolate wasteland with the expected confrontations with robbers and wild animals. Can any impediments slowing our work of evangelization match those hindering the first spreaders of the good news?

What are we waiting for?

Let Us Pray:

Dear God, inspire and give us strength to spread the good news to everyone we meet joyfully. May your loving gift of the Eucharist be our blessed waybread for every journey. Amen.