Barnabas

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." ACTS 13:2 Paul & Barnabas were the "tag team" of the early fledgling Church, first preaching in Antioch then sent away to bring the Good News to the Gentiles .After a miracle at Lystra, the people wanted to offer sacrifice to them as gods—Barnabas being Zeus, and Paul, Hermes—but the two said, “We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God” ACTS 14:8-18 There are, in many ways, similiarities to the work Paul & Barnabas did and the work needed today. The Gentile world of 2009 is the secularists whose "philosophy" has many gods and considers that the idea of the true God becoming man a silly notion. Oh, to be sure, there are places today where we are welcomed but the prevailing attitude towards Christians will get get you "kicked out of town" throughout the fruited plain . That includes universities, public schools, and any place where the "tolerant" liberal mindset won't tolerate you, the public square. We must be up to the task of evangelizing, ever persistent in enduring the hardships we face. The Gospel of Jesus Christ must be proclaimed each and every day by the life we live. If we listen closely we can hear the voice of the Blessed Virgin Mary calling our name. She is the model by which we should follow, she embraces each and every one of us through the Church. She was from the beginning obedient to God's will, cooperated with the Holy Spirit, was compassionate & loving to her son Jesus, suffered with Him at the Cross, rejoiced at the Victory of the Ressurection, filled with the Holy Spirit at the Pentecost, and joined Him in Heaven. We can embark on our journey like Paul & Barnabas did receptive to the graces of the Holy Spirit and encouraged by Mary our Mother.