Saint Barnabas

Today we keep the memorial of St Barnabas, apostle and a great New Testament figure. Perhaps we don't talk much about him, though he played a vital role in the early church. Thanks to Barnabas, we have Paul and his great missionary legacy. But today I want to reflect on one of the greatest friendships turning sour—the friendship of Barnabas and Paul.

Saul of Tarsus (later Paul) had been such a vicious persecutor of Christians that even after his conversion the early Christians were still afraid of him. When Paul eventually returned to Jerusalem following his conversion to Christ, Barnabas had to persuade the disciples to allow Paul in the company of Christians (Acts 9:26). As a result, a wonderful friendship between Paul and Barnabas was formed. On their first missionary journey together, John Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (Col 4:10), accompanied them. Along the way, however, John Mark decided to return to his home in Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). The reason for his departure is not specified. Later on, when a second missionary journey was planned, Barnabas proposed taking Mark as a helper, but Paul resisted the idea. The New Testament book indicates that a “sharp contention” developed between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:36-41). Sad to note, they could not reach an agreement, and so they split up. As far as we can guess, these two remarkable men never saw one another again.

Two great saints, two great apostles... the tragic separation between them is incredible. But God used them both in varied ways. He worked for good out of the situation that they two had created. The Bible is full of human, weak, and even sinful situations that God takes advantage of. God works his marvels inspite of us. He breaks his own rules, so to say, in order to bring out the best in us and in the world.

What can we learn from this? Failure, sin, humiliation, darkness and shadow are very good teachers if we allow them to be. The most amazing fact about Jesus is that he found God in disorder and imperfection. We must do the same or we would never be content on this earth. Reality is full of inconsistencies and imperfections, and if we are not comfortable with them we will find ourselves unhappy. You can't argue with reality. What is is!