Gospel Reflection for The 11th day of June in the year of Our Lord, 2026
Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle
Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believing, were converted to the Lord. 22 And the tidings came to the ears of the church that was at Jerusalem, touching these things: and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, rejoiced: and he exhorted them all with purpose of heart to continue in the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord. 25 And Barnabas went to Tarsus to seek Saul: whom, when he had found, he brought to Antioch.
26 And they conversed there in the church a whole year; and they taught a great multitude, so that at Antioch the disciples were first named Christians.
1 Now there were in the church which was at Antioch, prophets and doctors, among whom was Barnabas, and Simon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manahen, who was the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 And as they were ministering to the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them: Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them. 3 Then they, fasting and praying, and imposing their hands upon them, sent them away.
Last night, a Protestant lady told me that she had been “anointed by the Holy Spirit into all understanding.” I asked who anointed her? She answered that she had been anointed by the Blood of Christ. Of course, being Protestant, she has never received either the Body or Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. But, like all Protestants, she opens the Bible, chooses a random verse out of context and claims that it applies to her. In truth, Jesus was speaking to specific individuals. To His Apostles, alone, He gave the power of the Holy Spirit. We see this clearly in the first reading. Although these were Baptized Christians who had full faith in Jesus as Lord, the Holy Apostles had to come in person and lay hands on them, anointing them in the Sacrament of Confirmation, for them to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. That the Sacraments are administered by the priests of the Catholic Church is the commandment of Jesus. As I always ask, if you love Jesus why not just do as He commands?
Judson Carroll is the author of several books, including his newest, A Daily Catholic Devotional, Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings July - December, 2026 It is Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GRGY1D15
A Daily Catholic Devotional, Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings January - June, 2026 It is also available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GDK16N45
and
Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK
His podcast is The Uncensored Catholic https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-uncensored-catholic