Homily: June 11 - Saint Barnabas, Apostle, "Son of Encouragement"

Every year we hear a lot about Saint Barnabas during the Easter Season as we read from the book of acts at daily Mass.  

Barnabas was a levite Jew and native of Cyprus.  He had settled in Jerusalem and was one of the first to embrace Christianity there after the Lord’s Resurrection.  The book of Acts tells us that Barnabas sold his field and gave the money to the Apostles for the Church’s needs.  It was he the vouched for the sincerity of Saul’s conversion when the Jerusalem community still feared their former persecutor.

We heard in today’s reading how Barnabas was sent to Antioch and rejoiced and encouraged the Christians there to remain faithful to the Lord and he was filled with the Holy Spirit and faith, and through him a large number of people were added to the Lord.  From Antioch, Barnabas and Paul were sent on a mission together, which became known as Paul’s first missionary journey.  He completed the missionary journey with Paul and was present at the Council of Jerusalem, but after around the year 49 we lose track of him.

Some Church writers believe him to be the author of the letter to the Hebrews since he was a levite and the letter to the Hebrews often uses very priestly language. 

Nevertheless, Barnabas allowed the grace of God to transform him into a great, holy, and effective laborer for the Gospel.  The name Barnabas means “son of encouragement” and we heard how people came to follow Jesus through Barnabas’ encouragement.  Well we are all called to be a Barnabas aren’t we? 

Encouraging people to remain faithful to the Lord when they begin to doubt, instructing the ignorant, calling the fallen away back to the Lord.  Someone in this parish is perhaps waiting for your encouragement to really take an active role in the work that is being done here.  Some young person is perhaps waiting for your encouragement to take that next step in considering the Lord’s call to a religious vocation or to the priesthood. 

Each of us can make an invaluable contribution to renewing our parish, not only be leading and teaching but by encouraging.  May we through the intercession of St. Barnabas become great encourages for the Lord for the glory of God and salvation of souls.