Tuesday Of The Fourth Week Of Easter

While the Church in Jerusalem was still wondering about the conversion of Cornelius and his household through the power of the Holy Spirit by making use of Peter, the Holy Spirit was working through the Church and the message of salvation began spreading among the Greeks.

The Lord was helping them out the more. They had to send Barnabas man of encouragement and generous assistance to them. He was a man filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.

He went in search of Paul consequently the words of Jesus to Ananias who assisted and encouraged Paul in his conversion in Damascus became fulfilled. It is the Lord that has done all the wonders.

This was the beginning of evangelization among the Gentiles. The Lord is in control and he sets it up. Go out into the world and preach the Good News, the Lord says teaching more and more how to love and to be a true disciple.

The Church began to spread. They were preaching the truth and they had a lot of work to do. When you struggle to do things by yourself, the void is still there. It is the Holy Spirit who is at work.

Barnabas encouraged the Christians when He saw the work of Christ and the action of the Holy Spirit. Do you see good in others? Do you encourage them? Do you help others to grow spiritually? Do you help out in rigorous cases? Do assist others to stay through even when the whole world seems to be crashing down on them?

Rather than be full of yourself or something let us be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is through repentance and accepting Jesus as the Truth we can be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is about Jesus Christ, not us.

Jesus changes everything. He uses us to change all those around us and the world. Jesus is doing his wonderful works. As the church in Jerusalem was being persecuted, He was there and as they spread, He was there. Where two or three are gathered in His name, Jesus is there.

He nourishes them and remains present through the power of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus says to You take my yoke and learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart? What do you do do you run and follow your agenda?

Luke tells us again that at Antioch, the disciples were called Christians why? They were called Christians because whenever you see a Christian, you remember Jesus. Wherever a Christian is, he or she is being discovered by the love of Risen Christ and the action of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him: and directing him/ her to follow the will of the Father. A Christian resembles Christ(Christ-like). A Christian listens to the Master’s voice and follows in his footsteps and no one can snatch him/her away.

When the Church in Jerusalem heard that the Good News was spreading among the Greeks, they sent Barnabas- a man filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. He was a good man known for his generous assistance.

The question is; Are you a Christian by name or by character? Do you bear the name of a saint or Christian virtue and yet your character does not represent your Christian identity?

Are you following in the footsteps of Jesus, the good Shepherd who laid down his life for you and me or is Jesus the one searching for you and you refuse to listen, you prefer to be lost in the world? When you follow others it is because of Jesus, not them.

It is about God not men of God. It is about fear of God and not faith and fear in man. It has always been about God and so shall it be and forever will be. It is about following the footsteps of the master.

We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ is the Righteous One, the good Shepherd who intercede for us. The Holy Spirit helps us on earth in our journey back to the Father. This is the mystery of the Blessed Trinity in our lives, This is the truth.

Do you listen to the Shepherd? Do you believe and know the Shepherd? Whose voice do you recognize? Sweet-coated messages or the message of selfless love and obedience? Do you follow Jesus with steadfast love or you are massaging your ego?

Jesus says that I and the Father are one…My sheep hear my voice and they follow me. Praise the king of glory in all your deeds today and may our Blessed Mother teach how to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Fr Joseph Osho