Job Referral

Joseph’s friend had a history.

It was a bad history – full of hatred and even violence – and so people did not trust Joseph’s friend when he had supposedly “seen the light.”

But Joseph stood up for his friend and because the people in charge trusted Joseph, they accepted his friend on his word.

After a while, Joseph’s friend moved back to his hometown and the two of them lost touch.

Some time later, Joseph was on a business trip and he discovered something truly wonderful: a tremendous opportunity. He immediately thought of his old friend as the right man for the job, so he tracked his friend down and the two of them got to work.

Joseph was right: his friend was perfect for the task.

In fact, Joseph’s friend would prove incredibly successful and would become known as one of the greatest men who ever lived.

Joseph, also known as Barnabas, would always be esteemed as a great Apostle (although not one of the Twelve) and he would die gloriously for Christ.

But his greatest contribution to Christianity may have been what he did for his friend Saul, who would become known as Saint Paul the Apostle.

The memory of Saint Barnabas is celebrated on this day.

(adapted from an earlier post)