The feast of St. Barnabas,

11Jun
O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill.

 -Psalm 15:1


Today we celebrate the feast of St. Barnabas, born Joseph, who was one of the earliest apostles, and who had a great impact on the beginnings of the Christian Church. He is venerated by the Eastern Roman Catholic Church, the Oriental and Anglican Orthodox Churches and the Lutheran Communion. He was active prior to the conversion of Paul, and was involved in the many of the early Christian community decisions as to how the Church should proceed. Many scholars think he was the writer of the book of Hebrews.

There are several aspects of the life of Barnabas that I found interesting as they reflect the early church and continue to confound our church today.

First of all, he, a Jew, a native of Cyprus, sold his land and house and came before a group of early Christians and laid at the apostles' feet, all of the proceeds of this sale in order to join their community. The early apostles had decided that Christians should be required to do this for membership. From then on, he was called Barnabas which means “son of encouragement.”

The second thing I particularly love about him, was that he was the person who introduced Paul, then known as Saul, to this early community. At first the group was very skeptical of Saul. They were all afraid of him. After all, he had persecuted, perhaps even killed, many of their fellow believers. It was Barnabas who “took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.” Saul was for real, Barnabas said. Embrace him. The skeptics resolved this by sending “him off to Tarsus.” Thereafter, he was called Paul, and he and Barnabas were traveling partners establishing the churches throughout the region until both were killed for their faith.

In reading the first chapters of Acts, we learn a great deal about the difficulties facing the early church. Many are still with us today. What are the requirements for joining our church? How do we solve theological debates? How do we work for the kingdom while disagreeing with some decisions the church authorities have made? Are we asked to sell our land and house and put the monies at the feet of the church?

All of these very difficult dilemmas.

Thank you, St. Barnabas for providing us with a wonderful example of what it means to be a part of a dynamic community of faith-- even if we find we cannot do as you did, you make us think uncomfortable thoughts, and we need that struggle to deepen our life of faith and make it more meaningful, two thousand years later.


Musical Reflection  - Sanctus - Libera Pachelbel Canon


Gracious and generous God, help us as individuals and as a community to reflect on the early Christian Church and use it and its examples for how we should live within the world we face today. Thank you for Barnabas, and Paul, for their lives and their work. May we appreciate their willingness to give their life for the Kingdom. We pray for all persecuted Christians today; help us to see our role in this small world in which we now live. In Jesus' name our guide and savior. Amen.

Saints

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