Today is the memorial of St. Barnabas a fellow missionary with St. Paul. In fact, as we hear in today’s 1st reading Barnabas was the one to bring Paul from Tarsus to Antioch. Even before this after Paul’s conversion Barnabas was the one to encourage the Jerusalem church to accept him and not to fear him.
“When Paul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him to the apostles, and he reported to them how on the way he had seen the Lord and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 9:26-27).
Barnabas and Paul worked together preaching and teaching in Antioch. As we hear in today reading, “it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.” Barnabas and Paul also were sent out from Antioch on what is usually called Paul’s missionary journey:
“Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:1-3).
The church in Antioch sent Barnabas and Paul to evangelize, to spread the message of Jesus. Pope Leo in the homily at his inaugural mass calls us to recover this same missionary zeal:
“For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion and fraternity within the world. We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: Look to Christ! Come closer to him! Welcome his word that enlightens and consoles! Listen to his offer of love and become his one family: ‘In the one Christ, we are one.’”
Today as we celebrate the memorial of St. Barnabas let us strive to follow his missionary example. As Pope Leo exhorts us, let us preach and live the Gospel in humility and with joy. We welcome all and want all to share the love that joins us as Christians.
Image: “St Paul and St Barnabas” by Lawrence OP is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.