Today we celebrate the memorial of St Barnabas, a devout and good man. He was honoured as one of the Apostles although he was not one of the Twelve. Guided by the Holy Spirit, he encouraged many converts to remain faithful to the Lord and won many more believers to have faith in Jesus.

Barnabas was also instrumental in bringing Paul to Antioch and later joined him to preach the Gospel. By the grace of God, the community of disciples grew in Antioch and were first called Christians. Barnabas and the early Apostles committed their lives and missionary activities to prayer, fasting and Christian fellowship in obedience to God's Will. Later, encouraged by the increase in believers, Barnabas, Mark and Paul were commissioned by the Holy Spirit and the Christian community in Antioch to set out on their first missionary journey in 46 AD (Acts 13: 1-3).

Jesus in the Gospel reminded the Apostles and so us, that the mission of preaching the Good News is God's initiative. We are to trust totally in God and on His providence. Devoid of any hidden human agenda, we reach out to others in generous service and bear witness by our detachment to extravaganza. Like the early Apostles who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the Gospel, we too, are called to sacrifice our wanton needs in humility, trust in God's providence and poverty of spirit.