Happy 140th Anniversary, St. Barnabas!

The name a community chooses to call itself is very fascinating to me. I sometimes wish I could have been at the meeting where that decision was made.  What names were considered? Who proposed which name?  How were the others persuaded to select the one they did? While I will probably never get those questions answered, I do thank those who came together in faith and fellowship 140 years ago to establish St. Barnabas as a mission church in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey.  

I do find it very intriguing that that community chose to pattern their missional identity with St. Barnabas.  He was a Levite (a member of the tribe of Jewish priests), a member of a land owning family and an early convert to Christianity, probably at Pentecost or right after.  He gave up all of his position and possessions to join the fledgling movement to proclaim Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer of the world.

That sacrifice is impressive in itself, but what I find even more moving is that he chose to put his reputation and life on the line to support and attest to St. Paul's conversation to the original disciples.  They had every reason to abhor Saul, who persecuted so many of Christ's followers and promoted their deaths by stoning.  It was Barnabas who completely accepted Saul's conversion and encouraged (for his name's sake) the disciples to let go of their fear and hatred, and forgive him.  It was not a popular choice, but Barnabas allowed the Spirit to work through him for the benefit of all.

Such a disposition was an important trait for St. Barnabas' ministry that took him and Paul throughout the Middle East, especially to Antioch and Cyprus.  They did not have an easy time - they were persecuted, gravely injured, thought to be Greek gods and thrown in jail.  But they persevered and planted the seeds of faith in Jesus as Christ in many hearts and minds.  I am sure there were times when Barnabas needed to encourage both Paul and himself to continue in the face of such opposition, but they persisted because they knew testifying about Jesus Christ and inviting others into a life of faith would be the greatest gift they could offer.

I am sure those that chose to name this community St. Barnabas 140 years ago admired his sacrifice and fierce determination in the face of such adversity.  That determination has served this community well over the years as it has faced many challenges. 

The church as a whole faces new challenges in the modern era of relevance and purpose.  Can we "compete" with all the other activities and obligations in people's lives?  I think the short answer is, "No."  But Jesus Christ can.  That is what St. Barnabas believed and as the community gathered in his name, so should we. 

As we gather this week to celebrate our patron saint and our 140th Anniversary, let us rededicate ourselves to follow in Christ and St. Barnabas' footsteps, to live lives of true faith, even in the face of adversity, and encouraging one another every step of the way.

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