“The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch…for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (Acts 11:22-24 ESV).

Today is the Feast of St. Barnabas. As a Christian, I don’t think you could ask for a better description that what Luke writes of Barnabas in the above passage. Barnabas was truly a mighty man of God. We are the beneficiaries of his work 2000 years ago. His name literally means “son of encouragement” and he lived up to it.

It was Barnabas who went all the way to Tarsus just to find  the Apostle Paul. He brought him to the Church in Antioch, and because of Barnabas, the Church received Paul. The Church then laid hands on them and sent them out on Paul’s  first Missionary Journey to Asia Minor. Also on this journey was the young man Mark. He left Paul and Barnabas. This led to a split between Paul and Barnabas when the time came for the Second Journey. Barnabas wanted to bring Mark again, but Paul would not consent. So they departed paths with Paul taking Silas instead.

Who can make a judgement on this 2000 years later? What we do know is that Barnabas’ investment in Mark bore fruit. Paul, many years later, and late in his life, noted Mark’s usefulness when he requested, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11 ESV). And of course, Mark became a disciple of St. Peter as well, writing the Gospel of Mark.

Barnabas was a man who took both Paul and Mark under his wing at different times. His life and example gives us pause to reflect upon our lives and the people in them.  There might be someone that God has put in our path, of whom He is saying, “spend time with him or her. Maybe others have given up on them, but I haven’t.”

Here are the Scirpture Lessons for Today. Epistle: Acts 11:22-30;  Gospel: John 15:12-16

The Collect (Prayer) for the Feast of St. Barnabas:

O LORD God Almighty, who didst endue thy holy Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the Holy Spirit: Leave us not, we beseech thee, destitute of thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them alway to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Shane+