Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle
We have come to the last day of the Easter Season, and with it to the end of the Gospel of John, which we have been following throughout the Easter Season. We also celebrate today the memorial of St. Barnabas, a close companion to the Apostles and especially to Paul in his mission outside of Jerusalem.
As we see in today’s first reading, Barnabas was specifically called by the Holy Spirit, set apart for the work of spreading the gospel (Acts 12:2). He followed with zeal and a joyful hear, even disagreeing with his companion St. Paul on several occasions. Barnabas’s heart was consumed by God’s grace, on fire with the Holy Spirit, such that he held nothing back when it came to bearing witness to Christ. That word, “witness” is the translation of the Greek word “martyr.” Martyrs are so called because in dying as Christ did, they offer ultimate witness to Him. While we don’t know exactly when and how Barnabas died, the end of Acts of Apostles points to Paul’s martyrdom. It’s at least possible that Barnabas’s fate was the same.
The event of today’s gospel occurs as part of Jesus’ resurrection appearance to the disciples on the shore of the Sea of Tiberius. This passage immediately follows yesterday’s gospel reading in which Jesus questioned Peter three times (recalling the three times Peter denied Jesus after Jesus was arrested) as to whether Peter loves Him. After Peter responds in the affirmative three times, Jesus predicts Peter’s martyrdom. In today’s reading, then, Peter asks about “the beloved disciple,” wondering perhaps if he too will see martyrdom. Jesus tells Peter not to worry about John, “You follow me.”
What do we learn from the fact that those who follow Jesus most closely end up dying as He did at the hands of the Romans? We learn that imitation of Jesus, made possible by the grace of the Holy Spirit, may require much of us. Peter and Paul placed no restrictions on the extent to which they would follow Jesus; they became martyrs. We may not be asked to be martyrs in the strict sense (although we may be!), but we are asked to surrender our lives so that Christ may live in us. Let us today, in preparation for the feast of Pentecost, reflect upon how well we have been instruments of Christ in the world as our Baptism and Confirmation have prepared us to be. Have we placed any undue restrictions on our ability to be disciples?
- Tim Gabrielli