GOSPEL REFLECTION, WEDNESDAY, 10TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, 11 JUNE 2025, ST BARNABAS, APOSTLE, MEMORIAL

Matthew 10:7-13.   Throughout the first stages of Jesus’ public ministry in  Galilee tensions between him and the Pharisees and scribes (religious lawyers) became ever more inflamed.  Jesus forgave sins, which was the work of the Temple rites and religious authorities.  He dined with notorious sinners, often without observing the traditional laws of ritual purity.  All of those were considered very serious.  In addition, he healed people from many diseases and afflictions, exorcised demons, and forgave people their sins.  The Pharisees and others were thereby convinced he had some sort of remarkable power, but they were convinced that since this was so irregular he must be in league with Satan.  His powers, of course, were fulfillment of the prophets and for those who had faith, they were powers of the messiah.  The result was a dangerous conflict that would eventually culminate in Jesus’ execution.

Jesus’ response to all this was to commission the Twelve to carry out the same messianic powers that he had.  The apostles along with their followers were the core of what would become the Church after Easter and Pentecost.  They were therefore a messianic community.  The successors of the Twelve in our day are the core of a messianic community too.  The Twelve were instructed to proclaim the nearness of the Kingdom, preaching the Word of God and perform healings and exorcisms just as Jesus had been doing so far.  We cannot forget this; we are a messianic community whose mission, handed on to us from earliest times, is to do the same.   This divine commission is not just for our own sanctification – it is that of course – but is for us to reach out into the unconverted community to make known Jesus’ mission of reconciliation and redemption.  Personal piety is only part of the work of God in us, and our mission to make the Kingdom known is the rest.  That is accomplished not just with acts of piety, but with works of peace, compassion, and mercy for a wounded world.