“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves…..When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” (Matthew 10: 16, 23)
Paul and Barnabas, upon escaping Iconium, went to Lystra, where they continued to proclaim the gospel. There in Lystra, a crippled man was healed.
Paul said to him, “Stand up straight on your feet.”
Due to the healing of the man, the locals say, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” Barnabas called Zeus (removed) and Paul because he was the chief speaker; they called Hermes.”
Paul and Barnabas showed their displeasure by tearing their garments while shouting:
“Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them….”
The apostles were not carried away by human worship, rather they acknowledged that they were servants of God sent to preach the gospel.
We remember John the Baptist telling the people that he is not the Christ, only a voice sent to prepare the way for Christ. John went on to say, “He must increase, and I must decrease.”
Jesus also said that he came into this world not to be served but to serve. The same theme resounds in the responsorial psalm: “Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory and the gospel: Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”
Let us keep this important message throughout our Christian journey and humbly preach the good news. We are called to be Christ’s witnesses to the world. Have a blessed week.
