St. Barnabas: Son of Encouragement

Today the Church honors and remembers St. Barnabas.  We read about him in the Acts of the Apostles:

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet,and it was distributed to each as any had need. There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means ‘son ofencouragement’). He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money,and laid it at the apostles’ feet. (Acts 4: 32-37).

James Kiefer tells us that Barnabas’“new name fits what we know of his actions. When Paul came to Jerusalem after his conversion, most of the Christians there wanted nothing to do with him.They had known him as a persecutor and an enemy of the Church. But Barnabas was willing to give him a second chance. He looked him up, spoke with him, and brought him to see the other Christians, vouching for him. Later, Paul and Barnabas went on a missionary journey together, taking Mark with them. Partway, Mark turned back and went home. When Paul and Barnabas were about to set out on another such journey, Barnabas proposed to take Mark along, and Paul was against it, saying that Mark had shown himself undependable. Barnabas wanted to give Mark a second chance, and so he and Mark went off on one journey, while Paul took Silas and went on another. Apparently Mark responded well to the trust given him by the ‘son of encouragement,’ since we find that Paul later speaks of him as a valuable assistant (2 Tim 4:11; see also Col 4:10 and Phil24).”

“Son of encouragement”—what a wonderful name.  Each of us should be like Barnabas, an encouragement to our fellow brothers and sisters.  Sometimes that can be difficult to do,especially when those we are called to encourage have, in one way or another,hurt us, just as Paul hurt the early Christians.  Nevertheless, Barnabas was willing to give Paul a second chance.  Barnabas’ act of generosity certainly helped to foster Paul’s great missionary work.

Let us pray:  Grant, O God, that we may follow the example of thy faithful servant Barnabas, who, seeking not his own renown but the well-being of your Church, gave generously of his life and substance for the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

MEETING TUESDAY AT 6 P.M. for the Community Garden.

BISHOP’S COMMITTEE MEETS this Sunday after the Eucharist in Sutton Hall during the Fellowship Hour.

SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN- Saturday, 23 June at 10:00 A.M. Sutton Hall.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and please remember those who will be ordained deacons this Saturday.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550