Gospel (Mt 5,13-16) - At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: «You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty? It is good for nothing other than to be thrown away and trampled upon by men. You are the light of the world; A city placed on a mountain cannot remain hidden, nor do you light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on the lampstand so that it gives light to all who are in the house. So let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

Today the Church remembers Barnabas. Native of Cyprus, he lived in Jerusalem where he had embraced the Gospel, becoming an exemplary disciple: he had sold all his possessions and brought the proceeds to the feet of the Apostles. And it was the Apostles themselves who sent him to Antioch, where the Gospel was preached not only to the Jews, but also to the pagans: for the first time the community of Jesus' disciples was made up of non-Jewish believers. It was in this city that Jesus' disciples were first called "Christians." Barnabas, having learned of Paul's conversion, invited him to Antioch to bear witness to his encounter with Christ before everyone. He also took him to Jerusalem to present him to the other Apostles and at the same time defend the reasons for preaching the Gospel to the pagans without them submitting to circumcision. Together with Paul he undertook the first great apostolic journey, also bringing John Mark, nephew of Barnabas, a young witness of the passion of the Lord. The task of communicating the Gospel does not arise in the Church from human projects or from the desire for expansion. It is the Spirit of the Lord who pushes the Apostles and disciples of all times to travel the paths of the world and those of hearts to communicate the Gospel of love.