In the first reading today, we hear that Paul and Barnabas appointed ‘presbyters for them in each Church.” For the individual church communities to grow it was necessary that they had priests who could continue the proclamation of the Word, celebrate the Eucharist and other Sacraments and walk with the people in their journey of faith. This would allow the communities to continue to live and proclaim the Gospel in their daily lives despite the challenges and persecutions they faced.
The Scriptures give us the solution to our challenges in 2025. We struggle as children of God and as Church in living the faith in our world today. The distractions of the world as well as the various forms of persecution: mocking, judging, rejecting and at times even physical persecution wear us down and can weaken faith and lead many to wander away. This is not unique to 2025. The same Lord that strengthened and empowered the Christian Community in Acts is present to us today.
St. John Paul II said, “To carry out his mission well, a priest needs to be in contact with the Lord all the time.” Let us take some time to pray for our priests, that they may be strengthened in faith and love of the Lord so they may continue to lead the Christian people in growing in that same faith and love. Let us also pray that more young men take the time to discern the Lord’s call in their lives and have the courage to respond.
Living in Love with God 
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