What is your nickname?

Acts 11:19-26

Those who had been scattered by the persecution triggered by Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they were still only speaking and dealing with their fellow Jews. Then some of the men from Cyprus and Cyrene who had come to Antioch started talking to Greeks, giving them the Message of the Master Jesus. God was pleased with what they were doing and put his stamp of approval on it—quite a number of the Greeks believed and turned to the Master.

When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit’s ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master. Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. He found him and brought him back to Antioch. They were there a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching a lot of people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were for the first time called Christians.

Food for thought!

The first reading to today presents a turning point in the life of the Church. The gospel says, "But they were still only speaking and dealing with their fellow Jews… and then some of the men started talking to Greeks."

This was the first time that the gospel is deliberately preached to non Jews, that is, to Gentiles. Until now, the gospel was being preached to Jews only. But from now, some people, whose names are not even known, begin to preach to the outsiders. Who were these people? We don't know; all we know is that they came from Cyprus and Cyrene. These are nameless pioneers of Christ that went down to history for what they did. Let us learn from them: we work not to be noticed by the people but by God. Many times our work is unnoticed or even despised by the people. This is not bad as long as the Lord notices what we do for him. This is what Jesus said: "Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." Remember that every good life is a ministry.

It was at Antioch!

Before the Gospel, Antioch was a byword of luxurious immorality and lose living. To go Antioch meant to have gone to a "red-district"! It was here in the "red district" that the Gospel prospered most, so much so that "It was in a "red district" of Antioch that the disciples were for the first time called Christians." This is what St. Paul says, "Where sins abound, grace super abounded." (Rom. 5:20).

There is nothing like a hopeless situation. God can turn even the most hopeless of cities into the most hopeful of cities; he turned the most lux of all men into the most loving of men; he turned the most immoral into the best Christians; he turned Saul the persecutor of Christians into Paul the preacher of Christians. Yes, God can turn even our hopeless situations into hopeful moments; he can and will turn all our hopelessness into hopefulness.

Nick-named "Christians"!

The title "Christian" began as a nickname. It means, "These Christ-folk"; it was this contemptuous nickname that our ancestors in faith were called, as a way of despising them. Today, Christian is a holy name. Again, there is nothing God cannot change, even a bad name can become a good name; bad people can become good people; bad reputation can become good reputation.

Do you have a bad past, a bad nick-name, a bad reputation or a bad what? Remember the name "Christian" that first was a name of contempt; now it is a name of respect and admiration and wonder. Don't look at yourself thru the eyes of what others call you; look at yourself through the eyes of Jesus, who lives and loves you for ever and ever.