THURSDAY, TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St Barnabas, Apostle and Martyr
Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3 Ps 98: 1-6 Mt 5: 20-26
WHAT YOU RECEIVED FREELY, OUGHT TO BE GIVEN FREELY!
The church of Jerusalem upon hearing the first conversions sent delegates to Antioch to ensure whether this new missionary development was the work of God. The person chosen for this special task was Barnabas, whose memorial we celebrate today. The enthusiasm of Barnabas confirms that conversions in the church of Antioch was the work of God. Barnabas is also known as the “Son of encouragement”. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. He encouraged the faithful of Antioch and took a further step on, i.e. he went and looked for Saul and brought him to Antioch, to continue the spread of the Kingdom of God.
It is only when one is selfless, he/she looks for the good of others, and this virtue can be seen in Barnabas. He works together with Saul in Antioch in the responsibilities of teaching in the church. We also see the beauty of the Church of Antioch; it was united in heart and mind. The prophets and teachers encouraged the community and educated the faithful in the rudiments of Christian truth. Barnabas however played his role to the full. All that he received freely from God, he gave freely. To encourage others means forgetting oneself and allowing others to grow. It is taking one-step behind in order to let others go forward. Though later on we see there was a dispute between Barnabas and Paul about John Mark (Acts 15:39), Barnabas withdraws quietly to his mission without being a hindrance to Paul, who by now had become very famous missionary. Both separate, yet carry out the work of God as God desired for them.
Barnabas invites us to be faithful to the grace of God within us. Sometimes the light within us may seem very small compared to the darkness around us. However, can a moth fail to be drawn by the lamp of even the smallest kind? It does not hinder it, because it is the darkness that accentuates the lamp’s brightness. Therefore, drawn by the light of Jesus, we are called to proclaim the Kingdom of God, in our thoughts, words and deeds to all around us.
Response: Praise is due to you in Sion, O God.
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