I've been looking forward to the chance to celebrate our patron, St. Barnabas, at St. Barnabas for quite some time, and was delighted that his feast didn't fall on a Sunday such as Trinity or Pentecost.
I had initally planned to do just a simple liturgy of Welcoming New Members at the time of the passing of the peace. That's when one of my new members called me over after our Trinty Sunday service.
"Do we have to be baptized to be included?" (Given that I was going to record them under "Baptized Members" the answer was obvious.)
"I haven't been baptized."
My eyes must've grown to the size of saucers.
"Do you want to baptized?"
"Yes!"
"Well, let's do that next Sunday!!!"
"I don't have to wait until the bishop comes in August?"
"No!" And my "no" probably sounded more like an "are you kidding??" I have so wanted to do a baptism.
Then...on Saturday...another of my new members sent me an email. She didn't think she'd been baptized.
Suddenly, we had two! I couldn't have been happier. And on the day we were going to celebrate St. Barnabas, who helped to bring Christianity to Antioch and Cyprus...perfect!
Texts: Is.42:5-12; Matt 10:7-16
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Today is a great day. Not only because we’re celebrating our patron
saint… but we are bringing into the larger body of Christ two new members through
baptism… and doing a formal welcome of all y’all who’ve been faithful to our
congregation in attendance and pitching in to help.
Time to have you on the official team roster for St. Barnabas.
Such a joyous and happy day… and then our Gospel lesson ends with
this ominous line…
“I am sending you out like sheep into the
midst of wolves…”
Yikes! Oooo-Kaaaaay.
What’s all that about, and what does that have to do
with St. Barnabas… the man and our beloved namesake?
Well…a look at his life and ministry might give us a
few clues.
Barnabas…whose name means “Son of Encouragement” wasn’t
born with that name. He was a Levite…that was the priestly clan in Judaism. He
was born in Cyprus… and was named Joseph. The apostles gave him the name
“Barnabas” in recognition of his generous commitment to their cause. According
to the story told in the Fourth Chapter of Acts…Barnabas sold a field that he
owned and turned over all the proceeds to the apostles. He was the one
responsible for bringing the newly-converted Paul to the apostles and convinced
them that Paul had changed his ways and was no longer a persecutor of the
followers of Jesus.
Barnabas would head off to Antioch and would later ask
Paul to join him. Together… they began the Jewish outreach to the Gentile populations
in the region…and… as we heard in the reading from Acts… that was the beginning
of when Jesus followers would be called “Christians.”
Paul and Barnabas had some interesting moments as they
went about the missionary work of famine relief.
They started in Jerusalem…went back to Antioch and from
there…they were sent on their way to Cyprus. When they were in Lystra, the
people mistook them for gods. They believed Paul with his eloquent speaking
abilities was Mercury, the messenger of the gods.
Barnabas was Jupiter, the chief of the gods. Scholars
think that speaks to Barnabas’ commanding presence.
Unfortunately…Paul and Barnabas would have a falling
out over Barnabas’ cousin…the disciple Mark…known as John Mark. Paul didn’t
think John Mark was showing enough commitment to their ministry…and Barnabas
wanted to give him a second chance.
Their disagreement was so contentious that they decided
they could no longer work together.
Paul found another partner…Silas…and went back to the
churches he and Barnabas had founded together in Asia Minor.
Barnabas and Mark went on to Cyprus…where Barnabas is
honored as the founder of that church….and that is where he would die as a
martyr.
We can hear in this history that Barnabas did spend a
lot of time going in the midst of uncharted territories to bring the message of
Jesus…one that aligns with those words of Isaiah:
“I have given you as a covenant to the people,
a light to the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.”
While he may have encountered difficulties with others
outside of the circle of the church… the proverbial wolves…Barnabas found that
sometimes… the toughest challenges come from fellow sheep.
I think that remains true in our own times.
Many times… some of our most intense conflicts and
disagreements arise with own families.
Christianity’s history is full of arguments…and
splits…over any number of things.
The good news about the disagreement between Paul and
Barnabas is that neither of them let their personal disagreement get in the way
of their work.
The mission of bringing to people a God of love…and
liberation from the darkness that clouds the mind.
In fact…even after their split…Paul told the church in
Corinth to keep supporting Barnabas in his work. And I gotta admit I love that
our patron saint is the one who wanted to give his disciple cousin a second
chance. That shows not only love but a good dose of patience.
I think there’s a lesson there for all of us.
Whatever personal disagreements we might have with one
another…our mission…as beloved children of God…ought to be about bringing more
love…more compassion into a world that needs that message.
I think that’s vitally important today.
Because there are those in our society who are working
against that mission of God.
They keep pushing a narrative that this group or “those
people” are to be banned or kept out…and we need to be afraid of “them.”
Fear is their way to keep us apart…black and white… gay
and straight… immigrant and native…and to prevent us from seeing each other as connected
and interdependent on each other. Anyone who is different not only can’t be
trusted…we need to silence them.
In a few moments…when we do the baptisms… all of us will be asked to recommit ourselves to the basic covenants of our faith. We will be called upon to “seek and serve Christ in all persons…loving our neighbors as ourselves.” All persons does not come with asterisk. We don’t get to opt out and only care for those who look like us… have the same beliefs as us.
Likewise…we will be asked “to strive for justice and
peace for all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” Again…not
just our own kind; all of humankind. We are making the commitment that Barnabas
had to be one who encourages everyone… and seeks a world where all systems and
people…provide a justice and peace that lifts up those who feel themselves
being kicked around…and dismissed by the world around them.
As the people of St. Barnabas…we make that commitment
with God’s help…and trusting that God will help us as God helped Barnabas…to
show that love to the world.
May each of us take into our hearts that spirit of
baptism and do our part to be that light of Christ in our communities.
In the name of God…F/S/HS.
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