FIRST
READING: Acts
11: 21 - 26; 13:
1 - 3
21
The hand of the Lord was with them so that a great number believed
and turned to the Lord.
22
News of this reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, so they
sent Barnabas to Antioch.
23
When he arrived and saw the manifest signs of God's favor, he
rejoiced and urged them all to remain firmly faithful to the Lord;
24
for he himself was a good man filled with Holy Spirit and faith. Thus
large crowds came to know the Lord.
25
Then Barnabas went off to Tarsus to look for Saul
26
and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year
they had meetings with the Church and instructed many people. It was
in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
1
There were at Antioch - in the Church which was there - prophets and
teachers: Barnabas, Symeon known as Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen
who had been brought up with Herod, and Saul.
2
On one occasion while they were celebrating the Lord and fasting, the
Holy Spirit said to them, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
and send them to do the work for which I have called them."
3
So, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent
them off.
PSALM:
Psalms 98:
1 - 6
1
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wonders; his right hand,
his holy arm, has won victory for him.
2
The Lord has shown his salvation, revealing his justice to the
nations.
3
He has not forgotten his love nor his faithfulness to Israel. To the
farthest ends of the earth all have seen God's saving power.
4
All you lands, make a joyful noise to the Lord, break into song and
sing praise,
5
with melody of the lyre and with music of the harp.
6
With trumpet blast and sound of the horn, rejoice before the King,
the Lord!
GOSPEL:
Matthew 5:
17 - 19
17
Do not think that I have come to remove the Law and the Prophets. I
have not come to remove but to fulfill them.
18
I tell you this: as long as heaven and earth last, not the smallest
letter or stroke of the Law will change until all is fulfilled.
19
So then, whoever breaks the least important of these commandments and
teaches others to do the same will be the least in the kingdom of
heaven. On the other hand, whoever obeys them and teaches others to
do the same will be great in the kingdom of heaven.
