Faith Daily Reflection: St Barnabus - Son of Encouragement
A reflection by Rev’d Deb Bird
One of the surprises of the ministry formation process came long after I had left theological college, when I eventually realised that one of the supervisors who had shaped me most deeply did not, in fact, agree with me on many things. We differed on theology, liturgical practice, and ideas about future Church more than I had recognised at the time. Yet that discovery only deepened my gratitude.
Rather than trying to make me into a version of themselves, they encouraged me to discover the kind of priest God was calling me in particular to be. They made space for my questions, strengthened my confidence when it was fragile, and never allowed their own convictions to overshadow my tentative and often uncertain steps into ministry.
In the gospel for this feast day, Jesus sends his disciples out as bearers of good news. Encouragement is perhaps one of the most overlooked forms of that good news. To encourage another person is not about offering applause. It is recognising God's life stirring within another and helping it grow.
Today we remember Barnabas, whose name means "son of encouragement." Throughout Acts, Barnabas demonstrates he is someone who recognises God's work in others. When the disciples feared Saul, Barnabas stood beside him (Acts 9:26–27). When Gentiles came to faith in Antioch, Barnabas rejoiced in the grace of God at work among them (Acts 11:23). When Saul's gifts were not yet widely recognised, Barnabas sought him out and invited him into ministry (Acts 11:25–26).
The model scripture gives us is Barnabus for Paul, Jesus for the disciples, God for the world. We are not called into uniformity, we but to discover the unique role we are each called to play in God’s world.
What does it mean for us to be for God, for one another, and for this world? How might we be better companions to each other’s growing?
God of encouragement,
help us to recognise your grace in each another,
and give us the courage to call it forth with gentleness, generosity, and hope. Amen.