Friday,12th  June 2020

ST BARNABAS

Barnabas was a Jew of Cyprus and an early convert to Christianity. His given name was Joseph, Barnabas or ‘Son of Encouragement’ being rather a nickname bestowed on him by the apostles. He became a leading member of Christianity community in Jerusalem and, though not one of the original Twelve, is described in the Bible as an apostle. As a Jew of the dispersion he had much in common with Paul, who had been brought up in the Greek city of Tarsus ; and was able to reassure the suspicious Christians of Jerusalem who knew Paul only as the most ruthless of their enemies.

He and Paul were partners in the first missionary journey. At Lystra the superstitious people took them to be gods, supposing the eloquent Paul to be Mercury, the messenger of the gods, and Barnabas to be Jupiter, the chief of all gods-a testimony to the commanding presence of Barnabas, though whether of stature or personality cannot be said. Their association was broken by the disagreement concerning Mark, and, while Paul revisited the churches, they had established in Asia Minor, Barnabas took Mark back with him to Cyprus, where he is traditionally honored as the founder of the church. It seems that he continued his journeys for the gospel, for Paul mentions him several times in his letters (Galatians 2:1;1Corinthians 9:6;Colossians 4:10),but there is no further account of his work in the Scriptures. Tradition also records that he was martyred at Salamis in Cyprus.

Collect

Lord God your Son Jesus Christ has taught us that it is more blessed to give than to receive help us by the example of your apostle Saint Barnabas to be generous in our judgements and unselfish in our service; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eucharist Readings:

Job 29:11-16        Psalm 112         Acts 11:19-30         John 15:12-17

The central words of this passage are those in which Jesus says that his disciples have not chosen Him, but he has chosen them. It was not we who chose God, but God who, in his grace, approached us with a call and an offer made of his love.

We are chosen for love, sending out into the world to love one another. Sometimes we live as if we were sent into the world to compete with one another, to dispute or to quarrel with one another. The Christian is to live in such a way that they show what is meant by loving his /her fellow human being. Many times, we hear people telling one another to love each other but their whole life is a demonstration that it is the last thing they do themselves. Jesus gave people a commandment which he had first fulfill himself.

We were chosen for joy.  It is true that the Christian is a redeemed sinner and therein lies their joy. The fact is we cannot fail to be happy when we walk the ways of life with Jesus.

Jesus called us to be his friends. He tells his disciples that he is not calling them slaves anymore he calls them friends. Now that is a saying which would be even greater to those who heard it for the first time than it is to us. Doulos, the slave, servant of God was no title of shame it was a title of the highest honor. It is a title which Paul counted it an honor to use (Titus 1:1) The greatest men in the past had been proud to be called the douloi, the slaves of God. Jesus says “I have something greater for you yet, you are no longer slaves, you are my friends. Christ offers an intimacy with God which not even the greatest people knew before they came into the world. Jesus called us to be his friends and the friends of God. That is a tremendous offer. It means that no longer do we need to gaze longingly at God from afar, we are not like slaves who have no right whatever to enter into the presence of the master; we are not like a crowd whose only glimpse of the king is in the passing on some state occasion . Jesus gave us the intimacy with God, so that he is no longer a distant stranger, but our close friend.

Jesus chose us to be ambassadors. I have chosen you, he said, to send you out. He did not choose us to live a life retired from the world but to represent him in the world. Jesus chose us, first come into him, and then go out to the world and that must be the daily pattern and rhythm of our lives.

Jesus chose us to be privileged members of the family of God. He chose us so that whatever we ask in his name the Father will give to us. Jesus chose us and we can take everything to God in prayer but also when we have done so we must accept the answer which God in his perfect wisdom and perfect love sends to us. The more we love God, the easier it will be to do that.

Let us pray

Let us think of the life of Barnabas and let us pray that our lives may become like his.

Help us, O God, like Barnabas to be a comfort to the sad, a friend to the lonely and a consolation to the broken-hearted.

O God, our Father, help us like Barnabas ever to desire to tell the story of Jesus to those who have not heard it; and make us to remember that there are many in our country and in our own circle who have still to be brought to you.

Help us, O God Like Barnabas to witness for you even if it is difficult to do so. Help us never to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

Give us, as you gave to Barnabas, the gifts we need to serve you in our time, and give us grace to use them, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen