Jun 11 2019 Lord’s Prayer – Feast of Barnabas

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Barnabas was one of the early apostles, mentioned in the book of Acts who sold his field and gave the proceeds to the apostles. This is at the time when they were sharing all of their wealth in common, owning nothing individually. I’m  not sure whether this concept is brilliant or naïve, although I like the idea of leveling the individual wealth of some. In any case, Barnabas sold a field, and gave the money to the good of all. His name means son of encouragement, and he proves later to be just that. 

Soon after Paul’s conversion, he meets up with Barnabas. At that time, no one would trust Paul, despite his story of conversion and professing a deep faith in Christ. Barnabas was willing to accept him, forgiving him, and brought him to meet other Christians.
Later, Paul and Barnabas head out on a missionary trip, and Mark came with them. Soon Mark turned back. On a second trip of Paul and Barnabas, Barnabas proposed to take Mark again, and Paul said no, that Mark was unreliable. Barnabas wanted to give Mark another chance, so Barnabas and Mark headed off on a missionary trip, while Paul took Silas. 

Barnabas seems to have taken the greater, more forgiving path, first giving Paul a second chance, and then Mark – even when Paul would not. Barnabas was able to be encouraging to Paul and Mark, when others would not forgive them for their past sins. 

This morning I’m thinking about what it means to be forgiving and encouraging, like Barnabas. While he certainly knew of Saul’s murderous crimes against Christians, he was able to trust the newly converted Paul at his word. Had he not,  I wonder if we’d have all of these writings of Paul.  And even after accepting Paul, Paul was unable to extend the same forgiveness to Mark. 

I’m thinking about the concept of innocent until proven guilty. How that’s a modern-day version of forgive us our sins. We are not to be judged by our past sins, but given a chance to do right – today. And when we screw up, given a chance tomorrow. And the next day.
It is so hard to let go of those past grievances, or at least let them color our judgment about someone today. But we pray daily in the Lord’s Prayer that God will forgive us – daily. Not remembering what we did yesterday, or keeping count of all the times we’ve screwed up. And we pray daily that we are to extend that clean slate to those around us, regardless of what they did yesterday. As we forgive those who sin against us. I’d like to think I’m able to forgive the sins of those who’ve done something against me. And for the most part, I can. Where I falter is in keeping a secret scorecard that informs my response to their actions tomorrow.

I want to be like the son of encouragement, extending God’s forgiveness through my forgiveness. Trusting people at their word, and letting God sort out the rest.