Open Reflections

 

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Informative bulletin of the Paphos Latin Parish / June 2017 / I

The Son of Consolation

This month we celebrate the memory of Apostle Barnabas, of Cypriot origin and co-founder of the Church in Cyprus with Saint Paul and Saint Mark the Evangelist.

He was called Joseph, and Barnabas means “Son of Consolation”.

Indeed, Barnabas played a very important role in the nascent Church.

He has been the link between the Church in Jerusalem and Paul, and it was he who made Paul meet the Apostles. (Acts 9, 27).

He, also, steadied the bonds of the Church in Jerusalem –consisting mainly of Jewish origin Christians, with that of Antioch (Northern Syria) where the majority of the faithful were of ethnic origin, i.e. non-Jews.

He accompanied Paul in his first Apostolic journey to Cyprus.

It was in his native land, namely in the outskirts of the rich city of Salamis, that according to  tradition Barnabas was martyred, in the year 61 A.D., sealing in this way his total offering of his life to Christ and the Gospel.

Barnabas’s life and work are part of this precious seed which bears fruit and builds up the Church through the ages.

As it was then so it is nowadays: all Christians have an important role to play in the Church and the world.

We must become the “link” connecting the Church with those who sincerely seek the face of God.

In order to do so, however, we need to be in a living and intimate relation with the Risen Lord, in faith, hope and love.

The spreading of the word of God

The word of God continued to increase and spread. When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said: “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work which I have called them”.

So after they had fasted and prayed they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

When they arrive at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

(Acts, 12: 24– 13: 5)

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