Sermon for St Barnabas Day 2025

Preached by the Vicar, Fr Christopher Woods

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

If I were ever elected Pope, which is of course impossible, then I think I would probably choose the papal name Barnabas. I say this not because I have fantasized about becoming Pope, but because during the conclave, some friends of mine and I were trying to guess what names the new Pope might choose. I imagine most cardinals think about what name they would choose whilst they are in conclave.

Barnabas literally means the Son of Consolation/the Son of Encouragement – this was a name given to him, it was not his birth name. It is a title we hear in Acts, and his role in the life of the early Church was absolutely foundational, though he rarely takes the spotlight.

Encouragement is not a soft virtue. It's not mere cheerleading or polite affirmation. Encouragement, in the biblical sense, is about strengthening others in their calling, in their faith, in their very selves. Barnabas is one who notices what others miss, who lifts up what others overlook, and who believes in God’s work in people—especially when no one else will.

We first meet Barnabas in Acts as a generous man—he sells a field and gives the money to the apostles. But his significance grows as the early Church begins to face change, and, indeed, conflict. It has been very moving to read afresh during the Easter season some of the ministry and mission in the early days of the Church.

There are three pivotal moments in the life of Barnabas.

In Acts 11, we hear of how the Church in Antioch was growing—largely among Gentiles. The apostles in Jerusalem are unsure what to make of it. So they send Barnabas to investigate. And what does he do? He rejoices. He doesn't gatekeep. He doesn't pull rank. He sees the grace of God at work and is glad. And he exhorts them “to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion.” In other words, Barnabas affirms the surprising work of God outside the familiar structures—and then strengthens it.

But it doesn’t stop there. He recognises that something new is needed. So he goes off to find Saul—later Paul—and brings him to Antioch. He goes looking for someone others might have written off. And from there, Paul becomes the great apostle to the Gentiles.

Later, in Acts 13, we see Barnabas set apart by the Holy Spirit to be a missionary, alongside Paul.

And in Galatians 2, we hear of Barnabas again—not as Paul’s sidekick, but as a respected, trusted figure among the apostles, who participates in the great discernment about the inclusion of Gentiles in the Church. Paul mentions that even Barnabas was led astray at one point. That reminds us—he was not perfect. But he was faithful, courageous, and open to the Spirit.

So what does this mean for us—for St Barnabas, Jericho—today?

I think Barnabas gives us a model of discipleship that is quietly radical. He teaches us to be people of encouragement—not sentimentally, but with a holy courage that sees what God is doing, and chooses to build others up for the sake of the Gospel.

Barnabas reminds us that the Church grows not by control, but by recognition—by discerning the grace of God in unexpected places. He challenges us to be the kind of people who make space for others, who draw the circle wider, who go and find those who might otherwise be left out, and say, “You have a place in God’s mission too.”

Is there someone today you’re being called to encourage? Someone overlooked? Is there a new thing God is doing in your life, in this church, in our community, that needs your yes—not your caution?

Here at St Barnabas, Jericho, named after this saint of generous heart and prophetic openness, we are invited to carry forward his legacy. To be sons and daughters of encouragement. To notice grace. To lift others up. To trust the Spirit's leading, even when it leads us beyond our comfort zones.

The world needs more Barnabases. Not more power or prestige, but more hearts that are open, hopeful, and humble enough to believe that God is still at work—perhaps especially in the unexpected.

So may we, like Barnabas, have the eyes to see God’s grace, the courage to build up the Body of Christ, and the joy to encourage others into their full calling.

Amen.