On June 11th we commemorate Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas. Saint Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles & a Galilean. After receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, he traveled in the service of the Gospel to Arabia and Persia, and brought to India a translation of the Gospel according to Matthew. His life ended in Armenia, where he met his martyrdom by crucifixion. He was also known as Nathaniel. Saint Barnabas was one of the Seventy, from Cyprus, & a Levite. After Christ’s Ascension, he led the Seventy until the Apostle Paul’s conversion. He is mentioned often in the Acts of the Apostles, which describes some of his travels as a companion of St Paul. By all accounts, he was the first to preach the Gospel of Christ in Rome and in Milan.
The Gospel reading for today’s feast is Luke 10:16-21, which reads as follows: “16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.”
