Barnabas -- "Son of Encouragement" -- Set Apart For God's Service

Today we celebrate Saint Barnabas. The name Barnabas, is translated “Son of Encouragement”, and it is a name that fits the person who bears it. His mission, in the Acts of the Apostles, is that of a sincere and enthusiastic disciple of Jesus, and companion of Paul, who encourages those around him “to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart.”

Today would be an opportune moment to look around us – in our families, workplaces, towns, nation, world – to take notice of those who are not always readily visible – because they do not all attention to themselves – but who fulfill a special mission in encouraging others to be diligent in doing God’s work every day, and who foster justice, truth, and peace within our communities.

Like Barnabas, these people seem to have been “set apart” for the special mission the Holy Spirit has called them to fulfill. Often they are ignored – sometimes even blamed – for speaking the truth when it is not the view of the majority. “Set apart” by God, they are sometimes “set aside’, that is, ignored , because speaking up for justice, truth and peace is often contradictory to the views of most folks within the community. They often suffer – as did Barnabas – but remain steadfast and firm in their faith.

In today’s readings the psalmist’s prayer for deliverance from our current problems, whatever they may be, suggests that deliverance will allow the glory of the Lord might reign in all the nations of the world.

Paul further develops this appealing insight into salvation by speaking of ‘the gospel of the glory of Christ’. He tells the Corinthians that the glory of Christ is their salvation and not anything that Barnabas or Paul himself can do for them. Nevertheless Paul insists that our love and faithfulness are needed if the glory of God is to dwell in our land.

One of the key aspects of Christian spirituality is the affinity between God’s presence with us, our faithful response and the well-being of our land.

In today’s Responsorial, the psalmist echoes the prayer for deliverance from current difficulties and misunderstandings, whatever they might be, so that the glory of the Lord might “dwell in our land.”

In today’s readings the psalmist’s prayer for deliverance from our current problems, whatever they may be, suggests that deliverance will allow the glory of the Lord "to dwell in our land."

Paul further develops this appealing insight into salvation by speaking of ‘the gospel of the glory of Christ’. He tells the Corinthians that the glory of Christ is their salvation and not anything that Barnabas or himself may do for them. Nevertheless Paul insists that our love and faithfulness are needed if the glory of God is to dwell in our land.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus brings that message home to each and every one of us as an individual, if we seek to be true disciples of Our Lord:

If you are not more righteous than the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

You know that the word of God spoken on Mount Sinai and engraved on stone tablets by his own hand told the people of old: Do not kill; anyone who commits homicide will be liable to divine judgment. But I say to you: whoever is angry with a neighbor will be liable to judgment; whoever uses nasty words in talking about a neighbor will be answerable to the Court; whoever uses words like “You fool” we be liable to the fires of Hell.

Therefore, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and on the way remember that your neighbor has something against you, go first and be reconciled with your neighbor, and then come and offer your gift at the altar.

Settle with your opponent before you go to court; otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison, where you will remain until the last penny of your debt has been paid back.

Just to make the message clear, from the perspective of the disciples of Jesus: The “prison” He is referring to is called “purgatory”, in some cases; but there is another “prison” for more serious infractions of God ‘s law, which, as we have seen so often, is simply: Love God with all heart, and mind and might; and love your neighbor as you want to be loved yourself.” Do this and you will live forever in the joy of God's dwelling-place.  Do not do this, and it will earn you an eternal-life sentence in a prison worse than you can imagine.