Today's readings, 11 June: St Barnabas, plus notices

Today, Wed 11 June 2025

Morning

- 10.30 am - Holy Communion in St Mary's Church, Westport (in the side chapel), followed by coffee in Clew Bay Hotel (from approx. 11am)


- 1.00 pm - Funeral and Service of Thanksgiving for the life of David Fabby; also in St Mary's Westport. Committal in St Thomas's Knappagh. 


Evening

- 8.00pm - Online Prayer and Bible Reading

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83203164246?pwd=hbRJDJ5X4hqrZAnP7ohlInGL5ggQPo.1

Meeting ID and Passcode on request. Please message 0838003233 or email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org.

Saint Barnabas
by Sandro Botticelli, c 1490
Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=159760904

Acts 11: 19-30

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenistsalso, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion;for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they associated with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians’.

At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

The gospel reading    John 15: 12-17

‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Barnabas, "a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith" (Acts 11)

Today, 11 June, is the Feast of St Barnabas. Ashley Tumlin Wallace writes "On June 11th, we celebrate the Feast of St. Barnabas, a true pioneer of the early Church. St. Barnabas may not be as well known as Peter or Paul, but his faithfulness, generosity, and encouragement changed the course of the Church. He reminds us that sometimes the most powerful witness comes not from preaching, but from believing in others, walking beside them, and quietly helping them grow in Christ."

(See Ashley Tumlin Wallace, Anglican Compass, https://anglicancompass.com/the-liturgical-home-the-feast-of-st-barnabas/#:~:text=On%20June%2011th%2C%20we%20celebrate,the%20course%20of%20the%20Church. )

You can read more about Barnabas, his life, influence and martyrdom here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnabas


Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-5-17-19-2025-2/

Alternative gospel reading for today:

Matt 5:17-19 The Law and the Prophets

[Jesus said] ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Scared Space

You can find a gentle prayer guide and reflection on the above gospel here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-06-11/