Wednesday 28 April 2021

Today is Wednesday the 28 April, in the Fourth Week of Easter.  

Salt of the Sound sings, ‘Be Thou My Vision’.  

Today’s reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.  

Acts 12:24 – 13:5

The word of God continued to advance and gain adherents. Then after completing their mission Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem and brought with them John, whose other name was Mark. Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."  Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.  So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.  When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John also to assist them.  

‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them’. What do you feel Christ is inviting you to at this moment in your life? It could be to a course of action or to an attitude of heart for example to be forgiving, courageous, generous or… what?  

Pause for a moment to listen to God’s invitation to you. Try not to think too much, but allow the awareness to grow within you…   

Listen again to the reading, and imagine that you are in the place of Barnabas and Saul and you receive the blessing of God through the prophets and teachers.  

What words do imagine they use as they lay their hands on you and bless you?  What do you want to say or do in response?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.