Acts 12:24 - 13:5 / John 12:44-50
We may have noticed since the Easter season began, the 1st reading has been consistently from the Acts of the Apostles, and so will it be until the end of the Easter season.
That being said, the Acts of the Apostles not only gives us a picture of what the early church was about, it also sets what can be called "procedures" and "guidelines" for the later church to follow.
In the 1st reading, we heard that the Holy Spirit "spoke" to the disciples and indicated that He has chosen Barnabas and Saul for a particular mission.
That seemed so obvious and clear and it seemed that no discernment was necessary and there was no contention about what needed to be done.
However we must remember that it was while they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping a fast when the Holy Spirit "spoke" to them.
And it was also after fasting and prayer that they laid their hands on the chosen one and then sent them off for the mission.
For the early church, worship and prayer and fasting were moments of encountering the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit also revealed to them the mind of God.
What happened in the early church will also happen in today's church when we take our worship and prayer and fasting seriously.
Indeed, worship and prayer and fasting are moments of encountering the Risen Christ and He sends the Holy Spirit to direct us in His ways.
What happened then in the Acts of the Apostles will also happen now, but only when we take our worship and prayer and fasting seriously,