ST BARNABAS AND BECOMING SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Fr Billy Swan

On 11^th June each year, the Church celebrates the feast of St Barnabas who is identified in Scripture as ‘the son of encouragement’. It is one of the highest compliments to be paid – to be known and remembered as someone who gave encouragement to others.

The first mention of Barnabas in Scripture comes in Acts 4:36 where he is identified as Joseph from Cyprus, a collaborator of the Apostles whom they called Barnabas, a name which means ‘son of encouragement’. This encouragement was shown by Barnabas by means of a generous donation. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the Apostles to provide for the needs of the Christian community in Jerusalem (Acts 4:37).

Barnabas was instrumental in introducing Paul to the Apostles and vouching for his authenticity (Acts 11:25). Later, in Acts 14:14, he himself is referred to as an Apostle, becoming a companion of Paul and proclaiming the Good News of Christ’s resurrection. Paul and Barnabas travel extensively to Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Antioch and Syria. At Lystra, he refused to accept the adoration of the people when they acclaimed himself and Paul as gods after the healing of the lame man (Acts 14:8-15). Barnabas was also a cousin of Mark the Evangelist and participated in the Council of Jerusalem (c. 49 AD) where it was decided that new converts to Christianity could be admitted into the church without having to adopt Jewish practices. This teaching took time to be accepted, and matters came to a head afterwards in Antioch where Peter had arrived from Jerusalem. In the spirit of the Council, Peter began associating freely with Gentiles and eating with them until he was criticised for doing so by the Apostle James. In response, Peter stopped his association with the Gentiles as did Barnabas. This infuriated Paul who accused both Peter and Barnabas of hypocrisy (cf. Gal. 2:11-14).

Tradition tells us that Barnabas was martyred at Salamis, Cyprus, but this is historically unverifiable. He is identified as the founder of the Cypriot Orthodox Church.

The legacy of Barnabas as ‘son of encouragement’ recalls both our own need for encouragement in the Christian life and the call to be sons and daughters of encouragement ourselves. If all of us wait to be encouraged but never encourage, then everyone loses out. Here I suggest a number of ways that we can be people of encouragement today.

First, by saying thank you. Few things are more discouraging than feeling taken for granted. Sincerely thanking someone for what they have done and what they do, is one of the most effective ways of encouraging them.

Second, by being an intentional missionary of encouragement. This means that every day we live, we look for an opportunity to encourage goodness wherever we find it; to be the best person and Christian we can be; to learn, grow and support each other when challenges come our way; to be prepared to carry a burden with someone when necessary. An encouraging word spoken at the right time can make all the difference in a person’s life. Here is where the example of Barnabas inspires us as he links mission to the ministry of encouragement. To encourage is to consciously go out of ourselves to encounter people where we find them and to avail of every occasion, not just to affirm the good but to increase it. In this way, the Spirit moves the person/people encouraged to a deeper faith.

The third inspiration again flows from the charity of Barnabas. He sold his land to support the mission of the Church. He gave generously. Here is where encouragement is always the fruit of charity and kindness. When you receive kindness and experience goodness, the soul is uplifted, confident and less fearful.

Finally, to be a son or daughter of encouragement is to do what the word says. It is to en-courage or put courage into others. Courage or fortitude is a gift of the Holy Spirit and by being people of encouragement, we become instruments and conduits of the Spirit’s gift. We become mediators of God.

Courage is not something we can take for granted. All of us are prone to discouragement for a myriad of reasons. We need courage to keep going, to keep faithful and to keep focused. For those in darkness, encouragement shines a light and shows them the way. Encouragement is found in Scripture, in the sacraments and in our faith. But an essential source is also found in fellow Christians. Encouragement is a gift that we all have with the ability and resource to share it. May we be known and remembered, like St Barnabas, as a son or daughter of encouragement.