Consolation
Homily for the Feast of St Barnabas
The Rev. Marq Toombs+ Curate
The Collect. O LORD God Almighty, who didst endue thy holy Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost; Leave us not, we beseech thee, destitute of thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them alway to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Epistle. Acts 11:22-30; The Gospel. John 15:12-16
The Feast of St Barnabas has me contemplating the meaning of consolation.
What is consolation?
The cynical associate consolation with an empty prize given just to make the first loser feel better. Like the woman who heard a voice from heaven say, “Come forth and receive eternal life.” But she came fifth and won a toaster.
The calloused associate consolation with an empty platitude spoken just to make someone feel a little worse. Like the man who stared at himself in the mirror and remarked how old and wrinkled his face looked. To which his wife said, “If it’s any consolation, your eyes are as young and sharp as ever.”
As we will see today, Barnabas was called the Son of Consolation for very different — and for much better reasons.
Who was Barnabas? He was a Levite, an Evangelist, an Apostle, and a Martyr.
According to Tradition, in his youth, this Levite was a student of Rabbi Gamaliel alongside a young man named Saul. (Yes, that Saul.)
The Levites were the tribe from which God called men to serve as priests. They had a special place in his heart. As it is written:
I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
This prophetic word is more relevant than it might seem.
Barnabas was a Levite. Over the course of his life this covenant promise was fulfilled in his ministry as an evangelist, an apostle, and a martyr.
Barnabas promoted God’s kindness and faithfulness with many compassionate acts of mercy. He gave sacrificially and generously for the sake of the poor. He risked his life and reputation to bring a dangerous and zealous new convert into the Church.
He served Christ and the Church in uncomfortable and challenging places. He preached the gospel to save the lost and performed signs and wonders to help the poor and heal the sick.
He suffered much for the sake of the Cross. He witnessed fellow ministers get criticized and cancelled and cast out. Some were threatened with words, some were pelted with stones, some were scourged with whips, some were shackled with chains.
Barnabas planted churches. He confirmed the souls of new converts by laying his hands on them and urging them to abide in the Faith come what may.
He ordained presbyters and urged them to endure hard things for the Kingdom of God. He commended both clergy and laity under his care to the Lord. He defended his ministry to the outsiders and marginalized with delight at the Jerusalem Council.
He practiced spiritual disciplines of fasting and prayer.
But not all was comfy and cozy.
He clashed with his old friend and fellow minister Paul over a young minister named John Mark. He had deserted Paul and Barnabas on a previous mission trip. Barnabas wanted to give him a second chance, but Paul felt that he was one and done. Barnabas saw his potential; Paul saw his problems. After two plus decades of learning and converting and working and suffering together, they separated and went their separate ways.
Over time, Paul changed his mind about John Mark, and he saw in him what Barnabas did: that John Mark was not useless but useful in ministry. Barnabas was right after all.
As for Barnabas, he made his way back to Cyprus and spent his last days among the folks of his hometown: kinsmen, fellow Jews, and Levites. But as no prophet is welcome in his hometown, he was despised and rejected for proclaiming the gospel of God’s grace in Jesus Christ. Like his Lord and Savior, he offered them true consolation, but received total condemnation from them. Like the first martyr Stephen, Barnabas was stoned to death.
Now, Barnabas might not have been a priest in the order of Aaron among the Jews, but he was a priest in the order of Jesus Christ in the Church.
As a messenger of the Lord of hosts, his lips guarded knowledge and people sought instruction from his mouth; his feet trod the path of peace and uprightness, and he turned many from sin; his knees bowed in reverence to the Name of Jesus, and his heart was at peace with God.
As an evangelist he preached the gospel with words and deeds – without showing partiality or favoritism.
As an apostle he was sent on mission to love all and serve all, to seek and save the lost, to cure souls and console sinners.
As a martyr he laid down his life and paid the price to save as many as possible. Like Jesus, he suffered that others might be consoled; he sacrificed that others might be comforted.
All this he did as the Son of Consolation.
What is consolation?
In English consolation has to do with comforting yourself or others in the midst of this transitory life. It is the comfort and relief that helps those who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity.
In Greek consolation is paraklesis. Paraklesis means to call beside. To bring others close to hold them up, to defend them, to comfort them, to keep them close. It’s what the churches in Judea and Samaria experienced after Barnabas welcomed Paul and brought him to the apostles. It’s what the Jews in the synagogue asked for when they invited Barnabas and Paul to speak a word of consolation to those gathered. It’s what the Gentile Christians felt when Barnabas and Paul read out the episcopal letter from the Jerusalem Council. This consolation was much more than a prize or platitude – it was the Promise and Power of the Presence of God.
Everywhere Barnabas went, served, visited, preached the people experienced true consolation and comfort. Why? Because he ministered In Persona Christi – in the person of Jesus Christ.
What does that mean for us? According to the word of consolation given in the Epistle to the Hebrews, clergy and laity alike have a responsibility towards Barnabas and others like him. As it is written:
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God.
Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
The Church must not only commemorate Barnabas the Son of Consolation, we must imitate him by showing mercy, kindness, and compassion to others.
Like his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Barnabas was filled with the Holy Spirit – the Life-giver – the Counselor – the Comforter.
And this same consolation is yours today because Jesus Christ, the Consolation of God’s people, is really and truly Present – In the preaching of the gospel, In the purification of your sins, In the participation of the Eucharist.
Here at this altar-table is true paraklesis – true consolation.
Jesus calls you to his side and invites you to take and eat his flesh and drink his blood from his hand. Jesus offers you nothing less than himself.
True consolation is found here – and it’s for all who turn from their sins and trust in their Savior.
Now let us prepare ourselves to partake of this heavenly comfort food – for the consolation of your body and soul.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
