The Example of Barnabas

Homily for Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Easter

Many of us have lived a life with surplus – more food than we need, more clothing than we need, bigger bank accounts than we need. At the same time, many of those who live with surplus generously give to those whose lives are filled with scarcity. Familiar with the words of the saints who preached that our surplus really belongs to the poor, they share their material wealth with the poor.

The list of the great saints who have shared with the poor is long indeed. In today’s first reading, we read of the first Christian saint, Barnabas, who sold a piece of his land to share with those who were poor. Throughout our two thousand plus year history, we have seen his example lived out in hundreds of others who did the same – St. Francis of Assisi, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Clare of Assisi, King St. Louis IX.

As I was praying with this Scripture passage today, I googled this statement: “Saints who have shared their wealth with the poor.” I was surprised that one article told of ten modern day people who gave away much of their fortune to help the poor: Jon Pedley, Frano Selak, Percy Ross, Yu Panglin, Chuck Feeney, Yevgeny Pushenko, Brian Burnie, Tom Shadyac, George Carroll, Zell Kravinsky, to name a few.

Barnabas would be smiling down upon them.

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator