The Feast of St. Barnabas

AM Psalm 15, 67 • Ecclus. 31:3-11 • Acts 4:32-37
PM Psalm 19, 146 • Job 29:1-16 • Acts 9:26-31

The apostle and missionary, St. Barnabas, was one of Christ’s earliest followers and responsible for welcoming St. Paul into the Church. Paul and Barnabas were together in Antioch building “The Church,” and the people of this area were the first to be called Christian, but I knew little else about St. Barnabas.

Barnabas was born a wealthy Jew in Cyprus and schooled in Jerusalem. It is speculated that he heard Jesus preach in person. This seems very likely, because he committed himself in a radical way to follow Christ’s teachings—selling his inherited estate and giving it all to the church to hold in common with the other apostles (catholicnewsagency.com). Our reading from Acts tells us about Barnabas and a community in which “there was not a needy person among them.”

I have no words of wisdom to offer that will help create a world in which there are no people in need. But each of us can use our own gifts and do small things that make a difference to someone.

Bountiful God, giver of all gifts,
who poured your Spirit upon your servant Barnabas
and gave him grace to encourage others:
help us, by his example,
to be generous in our judgements
and unselfish in our service;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
(The Church of England)

Written by Susie Norys

Susie enjoys spending time with family and friends and staying active at St. Paul’s, in the community, and working to ensure quality early childhood experiences for Arkansas’ youngest learners.