The rare gift of trusting someone else’s gifts

Morning: Psalms 15, 67; Job 29:1-16; Acts 4:32-37

Evening: Psalms 19, 146; Acts 9:26-31

It’s St. Barnabas Day.  Barnabas is true to his name, which means “son of encouragement”.  He is generous, selling property to support the disciples’ work.  Barnabas also vouches for Paul, reassuring the Jerusalem Christians that Paul has changed ... Until now, Paul has persecuted them!  A striking aspect of Barnabas’s generosity is not money, though, but his willingness to trust Paul’s gifts.  In our competitive and egotistical human society, it is a rare gift to trust someone else’s gifts, or to regard their gifts as greater than your own.  We still remember Barnabas for his open and generous ways.