Saint Barnabas

Today, the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Barnabas, an apostle of the Lord. His name means, "son of encouragement." That is a great meaning because we can all use encouragement as we journey through life and strive to live our faith and the Gospel to the fullest. As the Acts of the Apostles says about him, "He was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith" (11:24). This led one commentator to write this: "Barnabas was one of those just and faithful servants to whom the success of the Gospel was far more important than his own. He willingly sought and sponsored Saint Paul until the latter outshone him in renown, apparently without any thought to seeking the competitive edge. Humility in God's service brings its own success" (Magnificat, 150). When I read that commentary, I thought about the words of Saint John the Baptist when Jesus came upon the scene, "I must decrease, so that he will increase." We need to move out of the way so that the work of Christ can be done. Our Lord will guide and direct in all things. As we celebrate Saint Barnabas, let us not give up or lose hope, but let us be encouraged so that in all things, God will be glorified! Saint Barnabas, Pray for Us!!!