(Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3 / Matthew 10:7-13): Remaining Unchanging Amidst a Changing World
My dear brothers and sisters, I pray that the profound love of our Lord, who lives among us, may gently infuse your hearts, spreading comfort and peace to all.
I often hear people of my generation—and those who have lived through the recent decades—remark that we have witnessed and experienced a more rapid pace of change than any other era in history. We are living through a "stormy generation," experiencing developments so dazzling they can truly be called a revolution. This state-of-the-art era constantly urges us to keep up with its pace. Today, caught in an overwhelming flood of information, the volume and scope of human knowledge explode exponentially from one day to the next.
Yet, as we look upon the chaos, disorder, and the complex, fast-changing trends of this world, it is also true that a deep concern arises within us: despite the undeniable benefits of progress, how much are we losing along the way? When buildings grow taller, the sunless shadows stretch wider. The brighter and more intense the artificial lights become, the darker the hidden corners grow, fading completely from our sight. When the speed of development is too fast, the gap widens between those who benefit and those who are left behind—whether due to generational divides, physical distance, or environmental circumstances. This unreachable alienation brings deep pain to us all.
Within this cultural environment, we sometimes feel helpless and small before boundaries we simply cannot cross. A sense of relative deprivation and deep loneliness creeps in. For some, the enthusiasm for life fades, and the very roots where they once found meaning are shaken. As this emptiness grows, so does a sense of crisis; yet, conversely, it ignites an earnest, burning desire to rediscover the precious roots of our lives.
Many of you may have recently seen media reports about the growing number of young people seeking out the Catholic Church in the United States. Their footsteps are surely not chasing a vague mirage. Rather, they come because of a thirst for the most fundamental realities—a desire to heal the deep, unhealed fractures within their hearts, and a longing to reclaim the ultimate purpose for which they ought to live. And to those who take such earnest and deliberate steps toward us, we who believe must offer a warm and tender sanctuary.
In the Acts of the Apostles (11:24), it is written: "For he was a good man, filled with the holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people was added to the Lord." Saint Barnabas, whom we honor today, was precisely this kind of man—good, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. True to these qualities, he was an "apostle of encouragement and embrace" who vouched for Paul and guided him when the other disciples still mistrusted him. Truly, this is the fragrance that naturally emanates from a person who genuinely abides in God. Just as we long for a clear, refreshing spring when we are wounded and continually disappointed by the countless relationships in this secular world, we long for such a soul.
Perhaps this way of living is not meant for just a special few, but is the original image of who we are all meant to be. God has already gifted each of us with love, conscience, and moral discernment. How beautiful it would be if we lived remembering this inherent goodness! When this world loses its center, if we can share the positive presence and the moving, "better part" that flows from such a holy person, the hearts and souls of those who encounter us will surely shine with greater joy.
In the Gospel of Matthew (10:8), Jesus tells us: "Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give." Frankly, from the moment we were born into this world, we have come this far by constantly receiving from our environment. Beginning with the relationships God has woven for us, think of how much we have received—both visible and invisible—in the countless environments where we have set our feet! Therefore, if there is a good portion we can give, I hope we can give it unreservedly. It would be a matter of boundless gratitude if we could mature into "people of grace," allowing the warm fragrance of love to touch those who approach us, inspiring them to want to live the same way.
No matter how fast this world rushes forward, I hope we never forget that what humanity must ultimately seek lies at the very "Beginning"—which is our original source and, at the same time, our ultimate destination. Therefore, let us pray with all our hearts that we may weave a life that offers the blessing of walking together toward God. May we hold fast to the unchanging God in a changing world, offering the beauty that comes from being good, filled with the Spirit, and deepened in faith. Let us strengthen our resolve to listen to this very calling, and gladly invite others through the fullness of our lives. Amen.