the gift that keeps on giving
"The gift you have received, give as a gift." —Matthew 10:8
God gave Barnabas many gifts. Barnabas used all of them for Jesus. So God kept pouring out more gifts upon Barnabas as Barnabas kept pouring out his life in loving service to God (see Mt 13:12). Barnabas was:
- an almsgiver (Acts 4:36; 11:30; 12:25),
- a Scripture teacher (Acts 11:26; 13:1; 15:35),
- a prophet (Acts 13:1),
- a missionary (Acts 13:2),
- chosen (Acts 13:2),
- a discipler who took the timid Mark (Acts 15:39) and helped him grow into an evangelist who wrote a gospel,
- fearless and bold (Acts 14:3),
- humble, as he allowed Paul to take over his leadership role in the first Christian mission (see Acts 13:7, 13),
- an apostle (Acts 14:14),
- persecuted (Acts 14:5-6),
- intrepid, risking his reputation by personally vouching for Paul, a former persecutor of Christians (Acts 9:26-27),
- such an encourager (Acts 11:23) that the apostles renamed him "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36),
- a man submitted to the authority of the Church (Acts 4:37; 15:2), and
- fruitful (Acts 11:24-26).
Barnabas used whatever gifts he had to serve God. Give your entire self to the Lord. He will bear fruit through you and then give you even more (see Mt 25:28-29).
Prayer: Father, "here I am...send me!" (Is 6:8)
Promise: "Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wondrous deeds. His right hand has won victory for Him" —Ps 98:1
Praise: St. Barnabas was "a good man filled with the Holy Spirit and faith" (Acts 11:24).
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by one of our editors.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, December 4, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 10, 2001