A spiritual writer at Aleteia reflected this week on St. Barnabas’s feast day (June 11) and the apostle’s gift for encouragement. The piece, available at Aleteia, uses Barnabas as a lens for examining our own habits of speech, particularly the temptation to default to cynical criticism rather than genuine encouragement.
What happened
The reflection centers on Acts 4:36, where Joseph of Cyprus is renamed Barnabas by the apostles. The name means “son of encouragement.” The author connects this biblical model to a personal struggle with making cynical quips for cheap laughs, a habit that feels smart in the moment but undermines charity.
The piece outlines three practical steps toward cultivating encouragement as a spiritual practice, drawn from Barnabas’s example in Acts. Read the full reflection at Aleteia for the author’s personal story and the specific steps.
Why this matters
St. Barnabas appears throughout Acts as the apostle who vouched for Paul after his conversion, who partnered with him on the first missionary journey, and who later advocated for giving John Mark a second chance. In each case, Barnabas saw potential where others saw risk. His encouragement wasn’t naïve optimism but rooted discernment that chose to build up rather than tear down.
The contrast between encouragement and cynicism is especially sharp in online Catholic discourse, where hot takes and sarcastic dunks often pass for witness. Barnabas offers a different model: noticing what is good and naming it, even when criticism would be easier or funnier.
For Catholic readers
On St. Barnabas’s feast this June 11, pay attention to your own speech for one day. Count how many times you encourage versus how many times you criticize, even lightly. Then ask Barnabas to intercede for you in the area where you most struggle to build others up.
Sources:
1. Aleteia — original reflection
