Encouraging each other along the way!

Barnabas is a person who only turns up in the Acts of Apostles and makes important interventions on behalf of Paul. From all descriptions, he is true to his name which means "son of encouragement". In each of these interventions, he introduces Paul to other Christians and is present in Antioch when people start to identify the followers of the Way as Christians. He has a pivotal role to play in seeing the Gospel is proclaimed to people living ordinary lives in extraordinary ways. Our relationship with Christ is never just a private affair which we can contain to ourselves it will always overflow into the way we live and how we see the world.
Yet we know in our own world many challenges can come our way which call us to become people who live our prayer with love and devotion. It calls us to enter into the mystery of how Christ reaches out to us and enables us to be transformed in the area in which we live. This action of falling deeper in love with God calls us to become more ourselves and to discover the flame that burns within each of our hearts. God calls each of us to discover that unique gift which draws us together into the person of Christ. He places a question on our hearts which asks quite simply how will I become the person God wants me to be on this day? This is not so much a riddle to be solved but rather a life to be lived. To encounter each person as being blessed by God. How will we recognise that blessing and encourage the person to discover the flame that burns deep within? For even in the darkest night his light will shine.