²¹ The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.

²² When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³ When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. ²⁴ Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

²⁵ Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. ²⁶ When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)

Acts 11:21-26

13 Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. ² One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” ³ So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

Acts 13:1-3

Dear God, I had a couple of thoughts as I read the New Testament reading for the Catholic church this morning. 1.) As Paul and Barnabas taught that first year in Antioch, what was the focus of their messages? What was their priority to teach them first and make sure they understood? 2.) I never noticed that one of these men, Manaen, was a childhood friend of King Herod Antipas. It reminds me of a woman I knew whose brother was friends with Fidel Castro in Cuba growing up, but he later fell out with him as friends after the Cuban Revolution and Castro took over as dictator. I wonder what it was like for Manaen to know Herod so well and yet not know him now.

But going back to the first part of my musings, what would Paul’s and Barnabas’s priorities have been to get across to the people in Antioch that first year? What would be my priorities if it were me outlining a first year plan?

• How to nurture a relationship with God.
• How to pray.
• How Jesus taught us a whole new way of seeing life.
  • Love your enemies.
  • Love your neighbor as yourself.
  • Forgive all.
  • Love the poor and help them.
• Avoid sexual immorality (in every list of sins Paul gives in his epistles, it always seems like sexual immorality is the lead-off hitter).
• Avoid all of the other sinful behaviors that most already knew they should avoid but didn’t.

I’m probably missing a ton of things, but I think that is a pretty good list. It seems like when he gets frustrated with the different churches in his epistles these are usually the areas he focuses on.

Father, let me start by saying I am sorry for my sin. I want to be wholly and “holy” yours. I am sorry for the times when I take over, indulge my insecurities and selfishness and hurt you and others (not to mention myself). I am sorry for the things I do to come between you and me and me and others. I don’t want anything to get in the way of me living out the two great commandments. And I worship you, God of the universe. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are unbelievable. You are amazing. You are beyond words. You are my only hope. I pray that you will do your will on earth through me and through your church. But I know you are not limited to that. I pray that the ungodly will find themselves doing your will as well. I pray that you will hear my prayers for both the needs I have, but also the wants I have for friends who are sick or facing other challenges. Please have mercy and let it be in your will to heal the people who are on my heart right now. Strengthen their caregivers. Guide all of us closer to knowing you and your heart. Forgive me of my sin. I am sorry. Help me to forgive others. Reveal my unforgiveness to me and show me how to address it and let it go. Show me the paths around temptation and give me the courage to take them. This is everything from hate, to lust, to gossip. Make me a source of light in this world.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen