This blog follows the daily bible readings of the Catholic Church

Reading 1, Acts 12:24—13:5a

24 The word of God continued to spread and to gain followers. 25 Barnabas and Saul completed their task at Jerusalem and came back, bringing John Mark with them.

 1 In the church at Antioch the following were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 One day while they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping a fast, the Holy Spirit said, ‘I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them.’ 3 So it was that after fasting and prayer they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

 4 So these two, sent on their mission by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there set sail for Cyprus. 5 They landed at Salamis and proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; John acted as their assistant.

what about the unknown sheet metal worker, miner, nurse, teacher?

 Simeon Niger, Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen are not known apart from this record. Luke was writing some fifty years later, but their names were still in the memory of the churches. Perhaps they can stand for the millions of anonymous believers whose lives have enriched and still enrich the church. In the partnership of the Spirit, some become well-known, like Paul, either because of exceptional service, or accidental fame, but there are others, now forgotten, whose names once brought a smile of gratitude to the faces of their fellow members, and of those outside the church, whom they assisted. We become sentimental over the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, who is recorded as having killed and been killed for all kinds of bad causes, such as king and empire. How much more important it is to think of those who lived and died for a good cause. I may remember them today, and murmur my gratitude in meditation and prayer. 

Gospel, John 12:44-50

44 Jesus declared publicly: Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in the one who sent me, 45 and whoever sees me, sees the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, to prevent anyone who believes in me from staying in the dark any more. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them faithfully, it is not I who shall judge such a person, since I have come not to judge the world, but to save the world: 48 anyone who rejects me and refuses my words has his judge already: the word itself that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day.

49 For I have not spoken of my own accord; but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and what to speak, 50 and I know that his commands mean eternal life. And therefore what the Father has told me is what I speak.

John’s gospel provides us with helpful definitions, as for example: “God” is “The One who sent Jesus.” When more metaphysical definitions have been forgotten, this one will still make sense. God is the One who commanded Jesus’ ministry of healing, compassion, controversy and wisdom; and we can reliably deduce his character from this fact. John indicates his character by saying that “his commands mean eternal life”: God is pure goodness for humanity.

 Jesus represented this pure goodness in word and action. That is why he can truthfully say that he came to rescue people, and that, at the same time, his words stand in judgement on those who respond negatively. Those who hide from the light have chosen darkness. We are not to imagine that those who accept Jesus words are all signed up Christian believers: there are others who follow his teaching in their lives; nor that all who refuse his words are outside the church: there are some who call themselves Christian, but have contempt for his teaching.

 This passage is fundamentally positive: eternal life is never concealed but is always evident and available though Jesus.