Matthew 5:20-26 | Fresco St Paul's Outside the Walls | Feast of Saint Barnabas

Matthew 5:20-26 Feast of Saint Barnabas

The Life of St. Paul: Paul and Barnabas Taken for Gods, Anonymous Painted, commissioned in 1855, Painted Circa 1857-60, Oil on canvas © Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Rome Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.’ READ MORE Reflection on the Fresco Painting Today we celebrate the feast of St Barnabas. We hear of Saint Barnabas mainly through the Acts of the Apostles, where he is one of Saint Paul’s main companions. We see them at times depicted together in artworks, of which the painting shared with you today is one of the more popular depictions., It shows the episode in which the people of Lystra mistake the two companions for gods come to earth. In Acts 14:8-18 Paul and Barnabas are in Lystra and heal a crippled man (bottom right corner) and the Lystrans take them for gods. A priest even brings an ox to sacrifice to them, as shown in this painting, but Saint Paul with outstretched arms tells them to stop. The two have to explain that "we are of the same nature as you.” This painting is from a series of 36 by 22 various artists (not all recorded) that line the nave and transept of the Basilica of St Paul outside the Walls in Rome and all depict episodes of the life of St Paul.  When Paul came to Jerusalem after his conversion, most of the Christians there wanted nothing to do with him for they had known him as a persecutor of Christians. But Barnabas, guided by the Holy Spirit was willing to take a calculated risk on Paul. They became great friends and travelled far and wide, sharing the Good News of Christ to the world. St Barnabas was also one of the Cypriots who founded (Acts 11:19–20) the church in Antioch, where he preached.  Barnabas was willing to give up and risk everything to tell people about Jesus, using his gifts and strengths at the service of God… Saint Barnabas pray for us. by Patrick van der Vorst