To witness powerfully "to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 4:33), we need people like Mary who will continue steadfastly praying for the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14). We also need faithful people like Matthias to replace unfaithful leaders like Judas. To proclaim effectively the Good News of the risen Christ, we need repentant preachers like Peter, martyrs like Stephen, and missionaries like Paul. We greatly need self-sacrificing, generous, zealous sons and daughters of encouragement like Barnabas (Acts 4:36).
People like St. Barnabas set the tone for the Christian community. God's people, like all people, tend to be selfish, petty, worldly, and begrudging. We look to do the minimum in sacrifice and commitment and get the maximum in pleasure and comfort. Through Barnabases, God's people are pulled out of the swamp of minimalism and mediocrity. We repent so we give rather than take, serve rather than insist on being served, die rather than sin, and sacrifice rather than do our own thing. A church without Barnabases is nauseating to Jesus (Rv 3:16). A church with Barnabases looks like the body and bride of Christ. Be a Barnabas.
| PRAYER: | Father, may zeal for You consume me (Ps 69:10; Jn 2:17). |
| PROMISE: | "The wind blows where it will. You hear the sound it makes but you do not know where it comes from, or where it goes. So it is with everyone begotten of the Spirit." —Jn 3:8 |
| PRAISE: | Martha's devotion to Mass eventually led her husband to the Church. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College