Good morning, Digital Neighbors! Happy Wednesday all you Awakening Wonders and Curious Questioners, Friends & Refugees, Early Birds & Later Dayers, Conversants & Lurkers, Misfits & Phamily, ADD Irregulars, WSN Contributors and all you Skeptical Curmudgeons. How about a little exhortation from the 2nd century?

The “Letter of St. Barnabas” is attributed to the companion of St. Paul mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles and some of the ancient authors thought so. There was not universal agreement and when the Canon of the Bible was being determined the Letter of Barnabas did not make the cut. While it might have some inspirational verses it was not given the weight of Sacred Scripture. The first part of the letter has been considered somewhat anti-semetic in its tone due to its questions about the use and interpretation of Jewish scripture by Christians. The later part of the letter quoted below is more of a moral exhortation. One of the first fruits of free will and an attentive mind is the freedom to question and criticize the subject. Your questions and criticism will often reveal your own attitude toward the subject as well as how well or ill informed you are on the subject. Sadly a biased dumb@ss can question and criticize as much as a well informed seeker of understanding, the former reveals his attitude, the later reveals his search. Either way, here is this morning’s exhortation, enjoy!

From 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.