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.
After Antioch, Barnabas met up with Paul and accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey, through very dangerous territories. After completing the missionary journey, Barnabas and Paul attended the Council of Jerusalem, after which, the scriptures are silent about him.
Some Church writers believe him to be the others of the letter to the Hebrews since he was a levite and the letter to the Hebrews often uses very priestly language.
Tradition holds that he returned to Cyprus, and was stoned to death while preaching the Gospel on the steps of a Jewish synogogue in the ancient Cyprian city of Salamis. His body was recovered by his cousin St. Mark, and brought to Constantinople, where it is venerated to this day.
Barnabas, the “son of encouragement” is a model for all Christians. We are all to be about the business of encouragement. We are to encourage our fellow Christians to remain faithful to the Gospel, to live more fully for the Gospel.
“But encourage one another daily…so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness,” those words from the letter to the Hebrews, as I mentioned, were perhaps written by the “son of encouragement”, St. Barnabas himself. Paul writes, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.”
Through the encouragement of Barnabas, the apostle Paul was first accepted by the church in Jerusalem (Acts 9:27). Through the encouragement of Barnabas, Mark was given a second chance after an abject failure (Acts 13:13; 15:39).
Mutual encouragement is essential to Gospel living, for as Jesus himself in the Gospels says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” Being a Christian in this fallen world is difficult business. The world hates us, temptation seeks to overcome us, perseverance is difficult, and we are caught in the crosshairs of spiritual battle.
Whether you have the highest ecclesiastical office, newly baptized, a widow, spouse, or single person, we need encouragement, that we may remember that our sufferings for the Gospel are meaningful, that we are not abandoned by God when suffering seems to overwhelm us.
Encouragement helps us through times of discipline and testing (Hebrews 12:5). Encouragement nurtures patience and kindness (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and Galatians 5:22-26). Encouragement makes it easier to sacrifice our own desires for the advancement of God’s kingdom.
To borrow from proverbs, Encouraging words are “a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing down to the bone”. May we be sensitive to all those in need of encouragement today, and respond generously to them for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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For all the priests of our diocese who will be changing assignments this week, and for their parishes, that we may all be encouraged for the continuing work of the Gospel.
For those experiencing discouragement or despair, that they may know the goodness and closeness of God through the charity of faithful Christians.
For the unity of the Church, for the conversion of those in error, for those who deny God’s existence or despair of his mercy.
For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord
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