On tomorrow, Trinity Sunday, the church sums up its teaching in the ancient Creeds. Faith in God the Father-Creator. Faith in God the Son-Redeemer. Faith in God the Holy Spirit-Sanctifier.
Such belief has been the source and inspiration of our way of life down the centuries in the lives of people who made wonderful contributions to the church and world. We celebrate such a life on Thursday .. . St Barnabas's Day. An article about the saint by L. M. Charles-Edwards is so good I quote from it. Referring to Barnabas, the son of consolation, he develops the idea and calls Barnabas "The Saint of Encouragement". His character was so delightful and charming that his fellow apostles nicknamed him Barnabas - literally "Saint Encouragement".
In reading of his life we can see many instances of Barnabas's disposition to contribute to encourage and to help in different situations. He sold property and gave the money for the work of the church. When St Paul suddenly became a convert to Christianity after being it's most violent and angry persecuror many were strongly suspicious. It was Barnabas who encouraged them to accept Paul.
St Paul was not the only person whom Barnabas helped. He was a great friend to Mark. Mark was the companion of Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, but he got frightened when opposition arose and, in fact, let them down by running away.
Paul was angry and he refused to trust Mark. But Barnabas, whose nickname was encouragement, encouraged the young man by asking him to help in other work. He knew quite well that if Mark was eventually to be built up as a leader, he could not possibly be judged by just this one failure. So he showed Mark that he still loved and trusted him, and helped to win back his self confidence; perhaps it was the encouragement of Barnabas that made it possible for the Gospel According to St Mark ever to be written.
Later on, Barnabas even persuaded Paul to forgive Mark for his earlier weakness, and they became friends again. Barnabas, the encourager, was a most understanding and human person, just the kind of friend who remains loyal whatever happens.
There is a need in the world for more believers like Barnabas, the encourager of others, by trying to understand their problems, help them back on the right way, before resorting to easy ways of hatred or writing people off.
Barnabas, the giver of encouragement, was also the receiver of it. The Bible says of him: "He was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of Faith." His distinctive life of being an encourager was firmly based on the immense power of God the Creator, God the loving Redeemer and God the Holy Spirit who makes Holy.
Blessed by the Trinity
"Help us to help each other Lord,
Each other's cross to bear;
Let each his friendly aid afford,
And feel his brother's care."
