“They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith.” (Acts 14:22) 

After evangelizing in Derbe and making many new disciples, Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps through cities where they had faced opposition. They returned not to avoid danger but to strengthen the fledgling churches. They encouraged the believers to endure hardships and remain steadfast in faith. In each community, they appointed leaders, prayed, fasted, and entrusted them to the Lord. Finally, they returned to Antioch to report what God had done, especially how He opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. The Church was growing- not just in numbers but in faith, structure, and mission. 

The early Church was not just a movement of moments- it was a movement of formation. Paul and Barnabas weren’t content with conversions; they were committed to community. And so they returned, again and again, to strengthen, to encourage, to build up the Church from within. 

That’s the mark of true missionary work: not just sowing the seed but helping it take root. Pope Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium, reminds us that “evangelization also involves the path of growth” (EG,160). Discipleship isn’t a sprint—it’s a lifelong pilgrimage. And we are called not only to make disciples, but to form them, to walk with them. 

In his Catechesis on Acts, Pope Francis highlights the apostolic wisdom of returning to strengthen the young Church despite personal risk. He speaks of a Church that is not afraid to journey alongside others, “consoling, supporting, and encouraging”. 

Bishop Ruggieri has challenged us to reclaim the heart of parish life- not just as a place to attend Mass, but as a family of disciples, forming one another in love, in truth, in holiness. Every Sunday, the Eucharist feeds us not just for personal salvation, but for communal mission. We gather not only to receive Christ, but to become more like Him-together. 

Paul and Barnabas didn’t build programs; they built people. They raised up leaders from within, entrusted them with care, and moved forward- knowing the Holy Spirit would continue the work. 

The same is true for our parishes today. We need disciples who become disciple-makers. We need leaders who love like Jesus. And we need Sunday to be our center—not just a holy hour, but a holy launching pad for formation, fellowship, and faith. 

The road is not easy. Paul says clearly, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” But the beauty of it is this: we don’t walk it alone. We walk it together, held by grace, formed in faith, and filled with joy. 

Questions 

• Paul and Barnabas returned to strengthen new disciples. How are we being called to walk with others in faith?
• In what ways does our parish intentionally form and support spiritual growth?
• What hardships have you faced in your journey of faith, and how have others helped you persevere?
• How can Sunday Eucharist become more than a moment—how can it form us into a mission-driven family?
• What gifts has God given you that you might use to build up the faith of others in our community?

Lord Jesus, raise up leaders and disciples in our midst. May our parish be a place of joy-filled formation, rooted in the Eucharist and alive in the Spirit.