Tuesday Sermon: St. Barnabus

          Today being the Feast of St. Barnabas, we learn about an exemplary apostle, considered one of the 72 originally sent out by Jesus.  The Acts of the Apostles describes Barnabas as 'a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith' (6:24). His Jewish parents named him Joseph, but after he had sold all his possessions and given the money to the apostles in Jerusalem, they gave him a new name: Barnabas, which means 'son of consolation' or 'man of encouragement.'

          What has struck me as most interesting about Barnabas, is that he is willing to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, even when that may go against what others believe to be a healthy dose of caution with regard to trusting people.  Barnabas was one of the first to welcome Saint Paul, the former persecutor of the early Church, and his own former schoolmate. He persuaded the Christians of Jerusalem to accept Paul's claim that he was now a believer in Jesus (Acts 9:26-30).  Barnabas was sent to Antioch, Syria, to investigate the community of non-Jewish believers there, and he brought Paul there from Tarsus. It was in Antioch that the followers of The Way were first called Christians.  If you remember, Paul had encouraged the believers elsewhere to send help to the fledgling community of believers in Jerusalem experiencing a famine.  Barnabus and Paul took the Antiochean donation to help.

          After that, Barnabus, his cousin John Mark, and Paul returned to Antioch before setting out together on the first missionary journey of the Christian church.  They went first to Cyprus, Barnabas' native land, and for this reason Barnabas is honored as the founder of the Cypriot church. Then they continued on to Perga, but John Mark returned to Jerusalem.  Later they went to Antioch in Pisidia, where they were so opposed by the Jews, they actually decided to preach to the pagans.  And later, they went to Iconium where they were stoned and thrown out of the city.  It was interesting when they went to Lystra in Lycaonia, where they were thought to be gods because of the miracles they worked and the physical beauty of Barnabas.  Unfortunately, after straightening that concept out, they were again stoned out of the city, and fled back to Antioch in Syria.  It was at this point that a dispute arose regarding the observance of Jewish laws and customs, and Paul and Barnabas returned to Jerusalem for the council that decided that non-Jews would not have to be circumcised in order to be baptized.

          When they returned to Antioch, Barnabas wanted Paul and his cousin John Mark to continue their travels together, but Paul, known for his rather forceful personality, was unwilling to give John Mark a second chance, given that he had left them at Perga on the last trip.  There was apparently a falling out between Barnabas and Paul, as Barnabas was determined to try again with John Mark.  Barnabas and John Mark sailed from Antioch for Cypress, where they continued their work together.  Paul chose a new traveling companion, Silas, and went elsewhere to strengthen the churches. Little more is heard of Barnabas though it is believed that the rift with Paul was later healed because we read about Barnabas in 1 Corinthians 9:6). Paul also discusses his relationship to Barnabas in his letter to the Galatians.

          Tradition says that Barnabas preached in Alexandria and Rome, and was stoned to death at Salamis about 61 AD.

          While not a part of the canon, an Epistle of Barnabas is considered to have been written between 70 CE and 132 CE, because it references the fall of the Temple and takes place before Bar Kochba revolt.  You can find it online if you're interested in reading what was likely written down by a part of his community well after his death, of course.

          From this particular story about Barnabas, his character shines through in Luke's writing of Acts, and later in Paul's letters.  We are provided an example of someone who follows where he is led by the Holy Spirit, listening, being aware, and giving people the benefit of the doubt when in need of a second chance.  His encouragement of others, including Paul, helped in shaping the early Church.

_______________________________     Information taken from http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Barnabas.htm; http://www.stbarnabasny.org/who-was-st-barnabas.html; and https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-barnabas/.