Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Barnabas the Apostle. Barnabas was “a man full of the Holy Spirit and faith.” The first reading mentions Barnabas during a time when Christians were living in fear, yet a revival was taking place. Seeing the grace of God at work, Barnabas encouraged the believers to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion. Every community needs a Mary of Bethany, who intercedes, and a Martha of Bethany, who attends to the needs of others. But we also need a Barnabas: an encourager who recognizes God’s grace in another’s life and gently calls it forth. In Acts of the Apostles chapter 13, Barnabas and Paul are set apart for God’s work by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, let us avoid petty disagreements, remembering that it is the Lord who raises us up and the Lord who can also humble us. Let us ask ourselves: “Am I an encourager or a discourager? Have my words built others up or discouraged them?”

PRAYER: Abba Father, help me to be generous with my words so I would build others. Amen.