Sons and Daughters of Encouragement

Note: On Tuesdays and some Sundays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.

Acts is one of my favorite books of the New Testament, because it’s full of action, the early Christians going to and fro, being persecuted, proclaiming the Gospel, helping people, so on and so on.

Today’s first reading from Acts 4 has a lot less action—on the surface. It begins with a general narrative passage in which we are told about the communal style of living, everyone contributing what he or she has and receiving what he or she needs.

Then we go from the general to the specific: the introduction of the Cypriot Joseph. This is the first mention of him in Acts, and what a mention it is. He sells property and provides the proceeds to his community. And now, the narrative means more. We have the example of a person who sacrificed a possession for the good of the community. It’s fitting that the apostles nickname him Barnabas, son of encouragement.

We all sacrifice for the body of Christ, offering our time, talent and treasure. But too often, complaining, judging, and comparing can be part of that sacrifice. May we learn from the example Barnabas provides—and by the way we sacrifice encourage others to do the same.