In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the disciples fear Paul for he was a persecutor of Christians. But Barnabas takes him under his wing, guides and encourages Paul to move forward, We know the end result, Paul becomes the great preacher of Christianity.

This weekend, we have our young children receiving their First Holy Communion. It’s a big step on their faith journey. But they’re still young and continue to need encouragement. Parents, godparents and family are their first source, but it doesn’t mean we can’t help too. A congratulatory word, a compliment, or even offering a prayer for them can encourage these little ones to continue on their journey of faith, recognizing Jesus in their midst.