St Joseph Barsabbas

St. Joseph Barsabbas. He is one of the two men in ACTS chosen as candidates to fill the empty place left by Judas. It came down to Joseph and Matthias. The Holy Spirit chose St Matthias, but I have always wondered what happened to St Joseph. He is hardly remembered.

What was it like to have that announced to all the brethren? That Matthias was chosen, and he was not. St. Joseph Barsabbas must have been a tremendously humble man, to just step down and find his place again among the 72 other disciples without a disappointed murmur.

What was even more charming to me was discovering that St. Apolinarius and St. Joseph Barsabbas share this feast day today, and it is Apolinarius who is celebrated on the liturgical calendar. Joseph was not chosen for that either. The saint book says that he probably preached "in many places" but didn't know exactly where. In fact, the book says his death is not even recorded.

This is the saint of the second place. This is the patron saint of all those who are not famous, not chosen for important tasks, although they have the talent for it as Joseph must have had. The assistant teacher, the OB nurses in the delivery room, the little old lady who quietly pours the iced tea over there in the corner at the fish fry, taking the time slot no one else wanted; the shy young priests who always have time to bless your medals after Mass and assure you of their prayers. The older lady in the back of Church who quietly whispers at just the right moment that your children aren’t a bother at all but a joyful presence and keep bringing them to Mass. That dear lady who puts a spring in your young mom step all the way home from Church, though you suddenly realize you can’t remember her name. The man who always gives up his seat on the bus. That one friend who is so shy and unassuming but is the first one you go to when you need prayers for something important. These are all St. Joseph Barsabbas people. He loved, he served, he preached, and probably quite well, but he never got the human honor we all really like getting....how many of us would have been as gracious as he was when realizing we could have had one of the twelve thrones in the Heavenly Jerusalem...and just missed it by a hair?

But he must have been so beloved. He was the Poster Child of the Sermon on the Mount. He found the pearl and bought the field, he lost his life and gained it, he sought the lowest place, he fed the hungry, he tended the sick, he did not worry about tomorrow or the honors of today. He did not chase that ever elusive “fear of missing out” feeling and thus became rooted deeply in the soil specifically provided to Him by Christ and in which he was content to root and grow. It is quite a peaceful life to live for God alone once you let go of all the honors, the mentions, the human importance which are like chaff in the wind. St. Joseph beckons us to it. Lose all that and you will gain Heaven, and the arms of Christ, and the promised room prepared especially for you in the Father’s House. St. Joseph beckons us in that unassuming way he must have had: “come and see.”

One thing I tend to forget is that he had known Jesus. He had walked with Him as one of the seventy-two. Somewhere along the line Jesus must have looked at Joseph on a road and smiled at his ready humility, given him a look of encouragement, or a thank you for a service done. Jesus must have been consoled that Joseph had truly listened to His words on the mount and was putting it all into practice quietly. That was enough for Joseph. Today we might ask ourselves: is it enough for me?

St Joseph Barsabbas and all those like him - these are the greatest of saints even though we might not remember their names, or where they preached or prayed, or how they died. Jesus knows. He called them each by name. And that is all that matters.

I do not feel inclined at this time to have a paid substack. But if we were together in a cafe discussing all these thoughts, I would not be opposed to you buying me a cup of coffee - with cream, of course. In that spirit, if any of my posts resonate with you and you feel so inclined, you can donate here: buymeacoffee.com/denise_trull