Memorial of Saint
Barnabas, apostle
(Acts 11:21b-26.13:1-3; Matthew 5:20-26)
Perhaps the apostles had not known much about Joseph, the
foster-father of Jesus. If they had,
they may not have wanted to change the disciple Joseph’s name to Barnabas. Like Jesus’ foster-father, Barnabas appears
to have been an extraordinarily righteous man.
Barnabas is the disciple who presented the money obtained
from the sale of his property to the disciples for the use of the entire
community of Israel. He also, as today’s
first reading shows, leaves Jerusalem to encourage the believers in
Antioch. Then he not only goes out of
his way to fetch the former church persecutor Paul from Tarsus but proceeds to
accompany the gifted apostle on the first missionary journey.
The apostles gave Joseph the name Barnabas because it means “son of encouragement” which is to say
that he supported others in the faith. It
is a virtue in much need of emulation today.
We need to encourage others to trust the Lord in their trials and to
give thanks to him in their success.
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