“HAVE COURAGE!”

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily this morning is, “Have Courage.”

If we were asked to give a talk on courage, most of us would say something like the following short homily I put together this morning.”

“Have Courage!”

WHY THIS TOPIC?

Well, when Barnabas - the saint for  today, June 11, is mentioned - along comes the message of courage.

In the Acts of the Apostles,  where Barnabas is mentioned 26 times, it says in Acts 4:36, “There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’).”

Biblical specialists say, “bar” means “son”, but “nabas” doesn’t mean “courage”.  It’s my sense, but I’m not a Biblical Scholar, that they gave him this nickname or new name and later on found out that his strength was that he gave people courage. He encouraged folks.

At funerals I like to ask folks to describe the person who died with one word.

Out come one word or a few word descriptions and comments like, “quiet,” or “sharp” or “Catholic” or “Christian” or “had a sense of humor” or “funny” or “a good listener” or “a giver”.  Sometimes, but not that often, I hear the word, “courageous” or “courage” or “encourager”.

I think I hear in the Acts of the Apostles that Barnabas was the type of person who encouraged folks.

If you read the gospels, you hear Jesus saying, “Have courage” or “take courage”.

DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTION OF WHAT COURAGE IS

Courage means strength, stick-to-it-tiveness, perseverance, fortitude, endurance, hang in there [which I always equate to Jesus’ 3 hours hanging in there on the cross].

SERENITY PRAYER

Courage is one of the key words in the serenity prayer: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”

LET ME CLOSE WITH TWO QUOTES WITH COURAGE IN THEM

Edgar Guest [1881-1959]  one of America’s popular poets and inspirational writers described courage  as follows:

     "Courage isn’t a brilliant dash,

A daring deed in a moment’s flash;

It isn’t an instantaneous thing

Born of despair with a sudden spring.

But it’s something deep in the soul of man

That is working always to save some plan.”

Edgar Guest came to the United States from England and he started out as a copy boy at the Detroit Free Press in 1895. He then moved up to become a police reporter. Then he became a frequent writer of inspirational  stuff that became well known all over the US.  He was to inspirational popular writing what Norman Rockwell was to popular American painting. In other words, like courage it took a lot of time, living and learning.

This next quote or note or comment comes from A Farewell Dinner speech by the doctor and writer, Sir William Osler [1849-1919]. He gave it on May 2, 1905. It's still good stuff. It passes the test of time. So if courage is sticking to a plan - especially a life giving one - then notice that the following piece has a couple of courageous  steps to put into practice.  

“I have three personal ideals.  One, to do the day’s work well and not to bother about tomorrow ….  The second ideal has been to act the Golden Rule, as far as in me lay, toward my professional  brethren and toward the patients committed to my care.  And the third has been to cultivate such a measure of equanimity as would enable me to bear success with humility, the affection of my friends without pride, and to be ready when the day of sorrow and grief came to meet it with the courage  befitting a man.”