Son of encouragement

Easter 2: Acts 4:32-37, Psalm 133, 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31

How well do you present yourself as a Christian at work, at school, in your clubs?
Most of us prefer to ignore this question
because we are not very good at it .
We want to be good at it, but there is much at stake
and we are not always sure the best way to go about it
Often this dynamic rather paralyses us.

Son of Encouragement
Most of the early disciples we encounter in the gospels
are known by their nicknames
rather than their formal names.
So Peter is actually a play on words
and on the Greek word Rock or stone
(We know this because Jesus actually points this out
You are Peter and on this Rock I will build my church)
Like all nicknames they have a basis in something or other
and so we read today
about the Easter behaviour of one of our favourite Saints
Barnabas...this name is actually a nickname…
and it means Son of Encouragement
What a nickname!

Our Call
Like all the saints, Barnabas,
sets before us examples of the risen life
and we are invited to follow after that example.
Just as last week we promised to renew our baptismal commitment
and we looked at how our actions might reflect that
So this week, we are being shown
one aspect of Christian life
which is worth noting.
Encouragement.
We are easily tempted to be knockers!
It is perhaps harder for Australians,
because we have such a culture of knocking.



Barnabas, we are told, encourages the early apostles
by generously supporting their work
How they were encouraged!
There is another incident, too, when we see him
taking this to the point
where it is uncomfortable
and difficult for him.
We read how Paul gets cross and tired with John Mark,
a young man who has travelled with them
but who proves to be a burden and a trial.
Paul decided they would separate.
Barnabas, though he has been with Paul for a long time, and through exciting and difficult experiences with him
In fact he went with Paul when others were a bit dubious
wants to support John Mark (also dubious)
who we are told is young (and foolish)
In what must have been a difficult decision
Barnabas leaves his beloved companion.

Characteristics
If we see Barnabas as setting a practical example of encouragement
we see some good characteristics:
generosity
using personal wealth and good fortune to advance the gospel rather than for selfish pursuit
understanding the weaknesses of others, and not dismissing them out of hand
making decisions which will help people to go strong and to learn from their mistakes.

We see also in Jesus’ encounter with Thomas that there is much encouragement in dealing with the process of doubting.
So easily a negative process (as we often make it) it becomes a touchstone for growth and hope.
There is much more that could be said.
As we see the disciples experiencing a change of heart
because of the Resurrection
we can also see the challenge to ourselves
to be Sons and Daughters of encouragement.
Parts of it are easy, and simply require will power and a desire to do God’s will
Other parts are hard
and will confront our deepest emotional ties
and our strongest relationships
Can we be,
Sons and Daughters of encouragement?
Barnabites.
I hope so!