Barnabas helped others see Holy Spirit

The world needs more Barnabases. I discovered Barnabas in the Acts of the Apostles during a retreat many years ago and came to regard him as a patron saint.

A native of Cyprus and convert to Christianity, Barnabas had unshakable faith in Jesus, Son of God and Savior. St. Luke describes him as “a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.” (Acts 11:24) He had keen spiritual insight, and Church leaders called upon him often in special circumstances.

Barnabas advocated the apostles’ acceptance of Paul when they were suspicious of the former persecutor. He was sent to Antioch to test the spirit of the new community where Greek as well as Jewish converts were being won for Christ. He went to Tarsus to fetch Paul for the work of the Church in Antioch, and he was dispatched with Paul to Judea to bring relief for the brothers and sisters suffering famine.

Barnabas was constantly called upon to serve as a link between the apostles in Jerusalem and the far-reaching concerns of the Church. He was a bridge, an ambassador, a messenger, a mediator; but he was first and foremost a disciple of the Lord Jesus sent to proclaim the good news.

Barnabas made connections crucial to both the internal functioning and the missionary efforts of the fledgling Church. He was a link integral to Church unity, frequently representing one group to another. He stayed with certain communities long enough to assess needs or verify that the Holy Spirit was at work within them, then moved on to forge another link, another bridge.

Perhaps it might be better to explain the role of Barnabas in this way: It was not he who was the bridge; rather, through the light of the Holy Spirit he recognized that Christ is the bridge, and he worked with zeal and courage to help others see the unity that was theirs because of Christ.

Jesus prayed for us, that our union with him would be an evangelical sign to the world:
“As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world ? I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:18-23)

In his love for Christ, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas understood the unity we have as Christians and how it is a participation in the life of the Holy Trinity and thus in God’s plan for creation. But it was not just a matter of understanding. Barnabas’s missionary vocation meant working with Christ to draw all people into union with our heavenly Father and with one another.

Such a vocation might sound lofty and otherworldly. In fact, it finds practical application in daily life. It involves what we actively do to encourage unity (even among those who do not share our faith in Christ, and perhaps especially among them) and what we carefully avoid because it causes division.

How do we follow the footsteps of Barnabas? First and foremost, by living our Christian faith to the full. But also by doing everything we can to see the good in people, to reconcile those who are at odds, to welcome the stranger and the outcast, to make room for the newcomer, to let go of suspicion, to pitch in even when our help is not expected, to speak only well of others, to pray for others (including those we do not know but whose worried expression we have noticed). Each of these small steps is a way of expressing the unity we share because of Christ, a way of making that unity visible and strengthening it.

What do we avoid as we follow the footsteps of Barnabas? Whatever goes against Christian morality. That includes sarcasm, grudges, gossip, condemnation, selfishness, clinched fists, closed hearts, indifference, prejudice. These things work against the unity Christ has given us and obscure his presence in our midst.

I mentioned earlier that it is perhaps most especially among non-believers that we have a responsibility to reveal our unity in Christ. Like Paul, Barnabas was an “apostle to the Gentiles,” for God sent him to those who had no faith. I doubt he would have brought many to Christ had his life been marked by sarcasm and resentment. Because he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith, he strived instead to work with Christ to draw others to the Father.

On June 11 the Church celebrated the feast of St. Barnabas, and on that day I called to mind the many Barnabases I have had the privilege of knowing. You and I make a great gift to the world when, like him, we work with Christ to make all people one.

Special to Arkansas Catholic

Latest from From the Bishop

Barnabas helped others see Holy Spirit

The world needs more Barnabases. I discovered Barnabas in the Acts of the Apostles during a retreat many years ago and came to regard him as a patron saint.

A native of Cyprus and convert to Christianity, Barnabas had unshakable faith in Jesus, Son of God and Savior. St. Luke describes him as “a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.” (Acts 11:24) He had keen spiritual insight, and Church leaders called upon him often in special circumstances.

Barnabas advocated the apostles’ acceptance of Paul when they were suspicious of the former persecutor. He was sent to Antioch to test the spirit of the new community where Greek as well as Jewish converts were being won for Christ. He went to Tarsus to fetch Paul for the work of the Church in Antioch, and he was dispatched with Paul to Judea to bring relief for the brothers and sisters suffering famine.

Barnabas was constantly called upon to serve as a link between the apostles in Jerusalem and the far-reaching concerns of the Church. He was a bridge, an ambassador, a messenger, a mediator; but he was first and foremost a disciple of the Lord Jesus sent to proclaim the good news.

Barnabas made connections crucial to both the internal functioning and the missionary efforts of the fledgling Church. He was a link integral to Church unity, frequently representing one group to another. He stayed with certain communities long enough to assess needs or verify that the Holy Spirit was at work within them, then moved on to forge another link, another bridge.

Perhaps it might be better to explain the role of Barnabas in this way: It was not he who was the bridge; rather, through the light of the Holy Spirit he recognized that Christ is the bridge, and he worked with zeal and courage to help others see the unity that was theirs because of Christ.

Jesus prayed for us, that our union with him would be an evangelical sign to the world:
“As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world ? I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:18-23)

In his love for Christ, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas understood the unity we have as Christians and how it is a participation in the life of the Holy Trinity and thus in God’s plan for creation. But it was not just a matter of understanding. Barnabas’s missionary vocation meant working with Christ to draw all people into union with our heavenly Father and with one another.

Such a vocation might sound lofty and otherworldly. In fact, it finds practical application in daily life. It involves what we actively do to encourage unity (even among those who do not share our faith in Christ, and perhaps especially among them) and what we carefully avoid because it causes division.

How do we follow the footsteps of Barnabas? First and foremost, by living our Christian faith to the full. But also by doing everything we can to see the good in people, to reconcile those who are at odds, to welcome the stranger and the outcast, to make room for the newcomer, to let go of suspicion, to pitch in even when our help is not expected, to speak only well of others, to pray for others (including those we do not know but whose worried expression we have noticed). Each of these small steps is a way of expressing the unity we share because of Christ, a way of making that unity visible and strengthening it.

What do we avoid as we follow the footsteps of Barnabas? Whatever goes against Christian morality. That includes sarcasm, grudges, gossip, condemnation, selfishness, clinched fists, closed hearts, indifference, prejudice. These things work against the unity Christ has given us and obscure his presence in our midst.

I mentioned earlier that it is perhaps most especially among non-believers that we have a responsibility to reveal our unity in Christ. Like Paul, Barnabas was an “apostle to the Gentiles,” for God sent him to those who had no faith. I doubt he would have brought many to Christ had his life been marked by sarcasm and resentment. Because he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith, he strived instead to work with Christ to draw others to the Father.

On June 11 the Church celebrated the feast of St. Barnabas, and on that day I called to mind the many Barnabases I have had the privilege of knowing. You and I make a great gift to the world when, like him, we work with Christ to make all people one.

Special to Arkansas Catholic

Latest from From the Bishop

Barnabas helped others see Holy Spirit

The world needs more Barnabases. I discovered Barnabas in the Acts of the Apostles during a retreat many years ago and came to regard him as a patron saint.

A native of Cyprus and convert to Christianity, Barnabas had unshakable faith in Jesus, Son of God and Savior. St. Luke describes him as “a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.” (Acts 11:24) He had keen spiritual insight, and Church leaders called upon him often in special circumstances.

Barnabas advocated the apostles’ acceptance of Paul when they were suspicious of the former persecutor. He was sent to Antioch to test the spirit of the new community where Greek as well as Jewish converts were being won for Christ. He went to Tarsus to fetch Paul for the work of the Church in Antioch, and he was dispatched with Paul to Judea to bring relief for the brothers and sisters suffering famine.

Barnabas was constantly called upon to serve as a link between the apostles in Jerusalem and the far-reaching concerns of the Church. He was a bridge, an ambassador, a messenger, a mediator; but he was first and foremost a disciple of the Lord Jesus sent to proclaim the good news.

Barnabas made connections crucial to both the internal functioning and the missionary efforts of the fledgling Church. He was a link integral to Church unity, frequently representing one group to another. He stayed with certain communities long enough to assess needs or verify that the Holy Spirit was at work within them, then moved on to forge another link, another bridge.

Perhaps it might be better to explain the role of Barnabas in this way: It was not he who was the bridge; rather, through the light of the Holy Spirit he recognized that Christ is the bridge, and he worked with zeal and courage to help others see the unity that was theirs because of Christ.

Jesus prayed for us, that our union with him would be an evangelical sign to the world:
“As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world ? I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:18-23)

In his love for Christ, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas understood the unity we have as Christians and how it is a participation in the life of the Holy Trinity and thus in God’s plan for creation. But it was not just a matter of understanding. Barnabas’s missionary vocation meant working with Christ to draw all people into union with our heavenly Father and with one another.

Such a vocation might sound lofty and otherworldly. In fact, it finds practical application in daily life. It involves what we actively do to encourage unity (even among those who do not share our faith in Christ, and perhaps especially among them) and what we carefully avoid because it causes division.

How do we follow the footsteps of Barnabas? First and foremost, by living our Christian faith to the full. But also by doing everything we can to see the good in people, to reconcile those who are at odds, to welcome the stranger and the outcast, to make room for the newcomer, to let go of suspicion, to pitch in even when our help is not expected, to speak only well of others, to pray for others (including those we do not know but whose worried expression we have noticed). Each of these small steps is a way of expressing the unity we share because of Christ, a way of making that unity visible and strengthening it.

What do we avoid as we follow the footsteps of Barnabas? Whatever goes against Christian morality. That includes sarcasm, grudges, gossip, condemnation, selfishness, clinched fists, closed hearts, indifference, prejudice. These things work against the unity Christ has given us and obscure his presence in our midst.

I mentioned earlier that it is perhaps most especially among non-believers that we have a responsibility to reveal our unity in Christ. Like Paul, Barnabas was an “apostle to the Gentiles,” for God sent him to those who had no faith. I doubt he would have brought many to Christ had his life been marked by sarcasm and resentment. Because he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith, he strived instead to work with Christ to draw others to the Father.

On June 11 the Church celebrated the feast of St. Barnabas, and on that day I called to mind the many Barnabases I have had the privilege of knowing. You and I make a great gift to the world when, like him, we work with Christ to make all people one.

Special to Arkansas Catholic

Latest from From the Bishop