Biographical Information about St. Barnabas, Apostle[1]
Readings for the Memorial of St. Barnabas[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3
In this account from Acts, Barnabas is sent by the body of the Apostles to see what Paul is doing. Recall, Paul went through his conversion on the road to Damascus and never received guidance or direction from the Apostles. The last they knew, St. Paul was still on the “other side”. Barnabas journey therefore was, at least until he reached Antioch, tense. Barnabas finds Paul in Tarsus and the two of them begin an aggressive evangelical ministry.
In the second account from the thirteenth chapter, now that Barnabas is closely associated with the Church in Antioch we see him sent from there to further advance the faith in other regions.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Psalm 98 was much used between Easter and Pentecost. It is applied again here as a tribute to the mission of St. Barnabas as he proclaims God’s saving works to all the lands.
Gospel Matthew 5:1-12
There is a large volume of information contained in the footnotes on this selection from Matthew. These notes, for the interested reader, explain much of what St. Matthew, the author, and the Lord intended with this first discourse from the Gospel of Matthew – The Sermon on the Mount. While it is linked closely with St. Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain” (Luke 6; 20-49) this speech is delivered to a large assembly of people. Used on the Memorial of St. Barnabas, it supports the Apostle’s evangelical zeal and provides a sample of the Lord’s wisdom which he delivered.
Reflection:
To quote the opening phrase in the novel Dune by Frank Herbert, “Beginnings are difficult times.” Not much was heard about St. Barnabas during the life of the Lord. It is speculated by the ancient Church historian, Eucebius, that Barnabas was one of “the Seventy” sent out by the Lord. However, his inclusion as an Apostle derives, like St. Paul, from his missionary activity on the part of the early Church. Had St. Barnabas not stood as his sponsor, it is unlikely that St. Paul would ever have been fully integrated into the Church leadership. He was, after all, known to the “Twelve” as the one responsible for the martyrdom of St. Stephen, Saul the persecutor.
The lesson for us today as we hear the story of St. Barnabas is that one need not be born to greatness in the eyes of world to achieve greatness in spirit. In fact, we are all “born to greatness” in God’s eyes. We look to St. Barnabas who, according to history and tradition, received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. He was transformed by that Spirit and was instrumental in helping spread the Word through that “Beginning” that was such a difficult time. He took the authentic Word we find encapsulated in the Beatitudes to those outside the immediate sphere of apostolic influence and spread it as far as he could.
That image of taking the word forward comes to us like a baton in a relay race. We are handed the Word to carry it forward by our words and actions so that others might receive it and in their turn carry it further still. Today we remember the great work of St. Barnabas who earned the title Apostle through his evangelical prowess. We are given a challenge to, like him; carry the work and word of God forward.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is “Paul and Barnabas at Lystra” by Nicolaes Berchem, 1650
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
Readings for the Memorial of St. Barnabas[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3
In this account from Acts, Barnabas is sent by the body of the Apostles to see what Paul is doing. Recall, Paul went through his conversion on the road to Damascus and never received guidance or direction from the Apostles. The last they knew, St. Paul was still on the “other side”. Barnabas journey therefore was, at least until he reached Antioch, tense. Barnabas finds Paul in Tarsus and the two of them begin an aggressive evangelical ministry.
In the second account from the thirteenth chapter, now that Barnabas is closely associated with the Church in Antioch we see him sent from there to further advance the faith in other regions.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Psalm 98 was much used between Easter and Pentecost. It is applied again here as a tribute to the mission of St. Barnabas as he proclaims God’s saving works to all the lands.
Gospel Matthew 5:1-12
There is a large volume of information contained in the footnotes on this selection from Matthew. These notes, for the interested reader, explain much of what St. Matthew, the author, and the Lord intended with this first discourse from the Gospel of Matthew – The Sermon on the Mount. While it is linked closely with St. Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain” (Luke 6; 20-49) this speech is delivered to a large assembly of people. Used on the Memorial of St. Barnabas, it supports the Apostle’s evangelical zeal and provides a sample of the Lord’s wisdom which he delivered.
Reflection:
To quote the opening phrase in the novel Dune by Frank Herbert, “Beginnings are difficult times.” Not much was heard about St. Barnabas during the life of the Lord. It is speculated by the ancient Church historian, Eucebius, that Barnabas was one of “the Seventy” sent out by the Lord. However, his inclusion as an Apostle derives, like St. Paul, from his missionary activity on the part of the early Church. Had St. Barnabas not stood as his sponsor, it is unlikely that St. Paul would ever have been fully integrated into the Church leadership. He was, after all, known to the “Twelve” as the one responsible for the martyrdom of St. Stephen, Saul the persecutor.
The lesson for us today as we hear the story of St. Barnabas is that one need not be born to greatness in the eyes of world to achieve greatness in spirit. In fact, we are all “born to greatness” in God’s eyes. We look to St. Barnabas who, according to history and tradition, received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. He was transformed by that Spirit and was instrumental in helping spread the Word through that “Beginning” that was such a difficult time. He took the authentic Word we find encapsulated in the Beatitudes to those outside the immediate sphere of apostolic influence and spread it as far as he could.
That image of taking the word forward comes to us like a baton in a relay race. We are handed the Word to carry it forward by our words and actions so that others might receive it and in their turn carry it further still. Today we remember the great work of St. Barnabas who earned the title Apostle through his evangelical prowess. We are given a challenge to, like him; carry the work and word of God forward.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is “Paul and Barnabas at Lystra” by Nicolaes Berchem, 1650
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
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