+ Today we celebrate the feast of St. Bartholomew. All that is known of him with certainty is that he is mentioned in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke and the Acts of the Apostles as one of the twelve apostles. His name means "Son of Tolomai" and scholars believe he is the same as Nathanael mentioned in John's gospel, who says he is from Cana and that Jesus called him an "Israelite…incapable of deceit." It is said that he preached in India and Greater Armenia where he was martyred.
In the gospel passage today we have the encounter of Nathanael / Bartholomew with Jesus. It was Philip who found Nathanael and invited him to come and meet Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael mumbled "Can anything good come from Nazareth" – as Nazareth was not thought highly of as a place that anything good could come from. When Jesus saw him coming toward him he said: Here is a true child of Israel. There is nothing deceitful found in him! Then Jesus let Nathanael know that he already knew who he was because he saw him sitting under of fig tree. Nathanael then makes an inspired statement: Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel. Nathanael / Bartholomew was therefore used by the Holy Spirit to proclaim very strongly and clearly a very important truth about Jesus: he is the Son of God, he is the King of Israel, although not many at that point believed it at all…not even most of the apostles.
But later all did come to believe the Jesus is Son of God, and Son of Man – Savior, Redeemer, Friend. And Bartholomew along with the other apostles went out to preach this message of salvation to the whole world; and gave their lives for the cause. This message has come down to us; and now it is up to us to continue to share it with other all the days of our lives!
Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom!
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