Today, on June 11, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle. While he might not always get the same "billing" as Peter or Paul in our daily conversations, Barnabas is one of the most pivotal figures in the early Church. If it weren’t for him, the story of Christianity might have looked very different.
As we dive into the readings for today: Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3 and Matthew 10:7-13: we see a roadmap for how we are called to live as followers of Jesus. It is a roadmap built on three things: seeing the good in others, living out our identity, and giving with a radical, open-handed generosity.
1. The Son of Encouragement
Did you know that "Barnabas" wasn't actually his birth name? His real name was Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus. But the Apostles gave him a nickname that stuck so well it replaced his original one: Barnabas, which translates to "Son of Encouragement" or "Son of Consolation."
Think about that for a second. Imagine being so consistent in your ability to lift others up that your friends literally rename you "The Encourager."
In our first reading from Acts 11, we see why he earned this title. News reached the Church in Jerusalem that a great number of people in Antioch: a massive, diverse, and often chaotic city: were turning to the Lord. The leaders in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to check it out.
Now, Barnabas could have gone there looking for problems. He could have looked for all the ways these new converts were "doing it wrong" or failing to follow the old traditions perfectly. Instead, the text tells us: "When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart."
Barnabas had a "grace-first" lens. He saw what God was doing before he saw what humans were failing at. We all need a Barnabas in our lives: that person who sees the spark of God in us even when we feel like a flickering candle. But even more than that, we are called to be a Barnabas for someone else. Encouragement isn't just about being "nice"; it's about helping people stay anchored in Christ when life gets heavy.
2. The First Christians: Identity in Antioch
Antioch is a special place in our history because it’s where the disciples were first called "Christians."
Interestingly, this wasn't a name the believers gave themselves. In the ancient world, names were often given by outsiders. The people of Antioch looked at this group of Jews and Gentiles living together, eating together, and talking about "The Christ" (the Messiah), and they said, "They look like little Christs. Let's call them Christiani."
Barnabas was the architect of this community. He was the one who realized that the mission was getting too big for him to handle alone. He remembered a man named Saul (Paul), who most people were still afraid of because of his past. Barnabas went to Tarsus, found Paul, and brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they met with the Church and taught a large number of people.
This tells us something vital about Christian leadership: it’s not about personal glory. Barnabas was the "senior" leader, but he went out of his way to bring Paul into the spotlight because he knew it was what the mission needed. Because of Barnabas' humility and his eye for talent, the community in Antioch flourished. They became a community so vibrant that the world finally had a name for them.
3. Freely Give: The Gospel Strategy
In today’s Gospel from Matthew 10, Jesus gives the Twelve a set of instructions that feel almost impossible in our modern world. He tells them to go out and proclaim that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. He tells them to cure the sick, raise the dead, and drive out demons.
But then He adds the kicker: "Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."
Jesus is reminding us that our faith, our talents, our breath, and our very lives are gifts. We didn't "earn" the Gospel. We didn't "buy" our salvation. It was a gift of pure, unadulterated grace. Therefore, we cannot hoard it. We aren't meant to be "spiritual warehouses" where grace goes to sit on a shelf. We are meant to be "spiritual pipelines" where grace flows through us to others.
Jesus even tells the Apostles to travel light: no gold, no silver, no second tunic. Why? Because when you travel light, you have to depend on God and on the community. You have to trust that the message you are carrying is enough.
Connection to the Society of St. Peter the Apostle (SPA)
This spirit of Barnabas: this "Son of Encouragement" mentality: is exactly what drives the Society of St. Peter the Apostle (SPA).
As part of The Pontifical Mission Societies, the SPA was founded with a very specific goal: to support the formation of local, indigenous clergy and religious sisters in mission territories. Since 1889, we have been working to ensure that the Church in Africa, Asia, and remote parts of the Americas can grow from within, led by their own people.
When you support the SPA, you are stepping into the shoes of Barnabas.
- You are an Encourager: You are telling a young seminarian in a remote village or a novice in a developing country, "I see the grace of God in you, and I want to help you stay faithful to the Lord."
- You are Building the Community: Just as Barnabas brought Paul into the mission, your contributions provide the scholarships and subsidies needed for future seminary educators and local leaders to take their place in the Church.
- You are Giving Freely: You have received the gift of faith, perhaps through the heritage of your own parish or family. By supporting the SPA, you are giving "without cost," ensuring that the Gospel continues to be proclaimed in places where resources are scarce but faith is overflowing.
The SPA provides ordinary subsidies for daily needs (food, water, books) and extraordinary subsidies for building and renovating seminaries. We make sure that those who are called by God aren't stopped by a lack of funds. You can learn more about our specific work for local clergy here: The Society of St. Peter the Apostle.
Reflection: Becoming a Barnabas
As we reflect on the life of St. Barnabas today, take a moment to look at your own journey.
- Who has been a "Barnabas" for you? Who was the person who encouraged you when you were ready to give up? Maybe it was a parent, a priest, a teacher, or a friend who saw "the grace of God" in you before you saw it in yourself. Say a prayer of thanks for them today.
- How can you "freely give" encouragement today? There is someone in your life: a coworker, a neighbor, or maybe even the person sitting across the dinner table: who is struggling to remain "firm of heart." A simple word of affirmation, a text of support, or a small act of kindness can be the "encouragement" they need to keep going.
Conclusion
The words of Jesus in the Gospel are as true today as they were 2,000 years ago: "The Kingdom of heaven is at hand."
We see it in the eyes of a newly ordained priest in a mission territory. We see it in the work of religious sisters serving the poor. And we see it in your generosity. Thank you for your incredible heart for the mission and for being a source of encouragement to the global Church.
St. Barnabas, pray for us!
Peace and blessings,
Fr. ADD
The Pontifical Mission Societies
70 West 36th Street, New York, NY 10018
https://pontificalmissions.org/