Catholic Radio Dramas

The Way of Light

From the Beginning of a Letter Attributed to Barnabas

The Way of Light

Consider now the way of light; any man who is bent on reaching his appointed goal must be very careful in all he does. Now these are the directions that have been given to us for this journey: love your Creator; reverence your Maker; give glory to him who redeemed you when you were dead; be single-minded but rich in spiritual treasure; avoid those who travel down death’s highway; hate whatever is displeasing to God; detest all hypocritical pretense; do not abandon God’s commandments. Do not put on airs, but be modest in whatever you do; claim no credit for yourself. Plot no evil against your neighbor, and do not give pride an entrance into your heart.

Love your neighbor more than your own life. Do not kill an unborn child through abortion, nor destroy it after birth. Do not refrain from chastising son or daughter, but bring them up from childhood in the fear of the Lord. Do not set your heart on what belongs to your neighbor and do not give in to greed. Do not associate with the arrogant but cultivate those who are humble and virtuous.

Accept as a blessing whatever comes your way in the knowledge that nothing ever happens without God’s concurrence. Avoid duplicity in thought or in word, for such deception is a deadly snare.

Share with your neighbor whatever you have, and do not say of anything, this is mine. If you both share an imperishable treasure, how much more must you share what is perishable. Do not be hasty in speech; the mouth is a deadly snare. For your soul’s good, make every effort to live chastely. Do not hold out your hand for what you can get, only to withdraw it when it comes to giving. Cherish as the apple of your eye anyone who speaks to you of the word of the Lord.

Night and day you will bear in mind the hour of judgment; every day you will seek out the company of God’s faithful, either by preaching the word, earnestly exhorting them, ever considering how you can save souls by your eloquence, or else by working with your hands to make reparation for your past sins.

Never hesitate to give, and when you do give, never grumble; then you will know the one who will repay you. Preserve the traditions you have received, adding nothing and taking nothing away. The evildoer will ever be hateful to you. Be fair in your judgments. Never stir up dissension, but act as peacemaker and reconcile the quarrelsome. Confess your sins, and do not begin to pray with a guilty conscience.

Such then is the way of light.

Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings

St. Barnabas, though not one of the twelve chosen by Christ, is nevertheless styled an Apostle by the early Church fathers and by St. Luke himself in Acts 14, 13 due to his zealous participation in apostolic activities. He was a Jew of the tribe of Levi born in Cyprus and named Joseph. After the ascension of Christ, the Apostles changed his name to Barnabas and is first mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 4:36). St. John Chrysostom tells that Barnabas was known for his compassion in ministering comfort to the afflicted and St. Jerome said he excelled in prophetic gifts. He was one of the first, and chief, of the seventy disciples of Christ. Owning a large estate, Barnabas sold everything and laid the proceeds at the feet of the Apostles.

It was Barnabas who introduced Paul to the apostles Peter and James in Jerusalem recommending they accept Paul as a disciple, which they did.

Barnabas was sent to establish the Christian community at Antioch, and later accompanied Paul from Tarsus to Antioch. By this time, the two are believed to already be bishops and Apostles of the Gentiles, given the commission to preach the Gospel to the Gentile nations. The two together brought Antioch’s donation to the community at Jerusalem during a famine and returned to Antioch with John Mark, a cousin to Barnabas. The three went on a missionary journey to Cyprus, Perga, the place where John Mark, weary of the hardships and dangerous obstinacy of the Jews, returned to Jerusalem. They went from there to Iconium in Lycaonia and then to Lystra, where Paul cured the cripple and they were acclaimed gods, but at the instigation of the Jews, Paul was stoned and left for dead. Miraculously healed, Paul returned with Barnabas to Antioch, ordaining priests in every church along the way.

When a dispute arose regarding the observance of the Jewish rites, Paul and Barnabas returned to Jerusalem, where the first council of the apostles was held deciding pagans did not have to be circumcised to be baptized into the Church.

On their return to Antioch, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them but Paul objected because of John Mark’s desertion of them in Perga. Paul and Barnabas parted and Barnabas returned to Cyprus with John Mark whose rift with Paul was later healed . Tradition has Barnabas preaching in Alexandria, Milan and Rome and was ultimately stoned to death at the instigation of dissident Jews in Salamis around the year 61.

Source: Compiled by Catholic Radio Dramas.com from: Butler’s Lives of the Saints; Dictionary of Saints – Delaney; Liturgy of the Hours.