Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
Lectionary: 629
Lectionary: 629
The angel spoke to me, saying,
"Come here.
I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain
and showed me the holy city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven from God.
It gleamed with the splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,
like jasper, clear as crystal.
It had a massive, high wall,
with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed
and on which names were inscribed,
the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
There were three gates facing east,
three north, three south, and three west.
The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,
on which were inscribed the twelve names
of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
"Come here.
I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain
and showed me the holy city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven from God.
It gleamed with the splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,
like jasper, clear as crystal.
It had a massive, high wall,
with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed
and on which names were inscribed,
the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
There were three gates facing east,
three north, three south, and three west.
The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,
on which were inscribed the twelve names
of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 145:10-11, 12-13,
17-18
R. (12) Your
friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
AlleluiaJN 1:49B
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Rabbi, you are the Son of God;
you are the King of Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rabbi, you are the Son of God;
you are the King of Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 1:45-51
Philip found Nathanael and told him,
"We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
But Nathanael said to him,
"Can anything good come from Nazareth?"
Philip said to him, "Come and see."
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
"Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
"We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
But Nathanael said to him,
"Can anything good come from Nazareth?"
Philip said to him, "Come and see."
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
"Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Meditation: "Come and see"
How can we know with certainty that Jesus is truly who
he claims to be - the Son of God and Savior of the world? Philip was eager to
tell his friend Nathaniel (who is also known as Bartholomew in Matthew 10:3 and
Luke 6:14) about his decision to be a disciple of Jesus. Philip tried to
convince his friend that Jesus was the Messiah, whom Moses and the prophets had
foretold would come. Nathanial was very skeptical because he didn't think it
was possible for the Messiah to come from Nazareth, a town in Galilee.
Nathaniel not only disliked the town of Nazareth, he despised its residents as
unworthy Jews. "How could anything good come from such a
place?"
Nazareth was at the crossroads of the ancient world
where people from different cultures and religions would pass through. Perhaps
Nathaniel thought its religious teachers were not orthodox enough in
their understanding and interpretation of the law of Moses. Besides, how could
the Messiah come from Galilee when the prophets said he would come from
Bethlehem of Judaea? Aren't we all a bit like Nathaniel? We are skeptical when
someone tries to convince us of the truth until we can comprehend it for
ourselves.
A skeptical but earnest search for God's truth
So what kind of proof did Philip offer to Nathanael? Rather than argue with his friend, Philip took the wiser strategy of inviting Nathanael to "come and see" for himself who this Jesus claimed to be. Clever arguments rarely win people to the Gospel - but an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ can change one's life forever. When people are receptive to the word of Christ and when they see his love in action, the Lord Jesus himself, through the power of the Holy Spirit, touches their hearts and opens their minds to recognize that he truly is the Son of God who reveals the Father's love and truth to us.
So what kind of proof did Philip offer to Nathanael? Rather than argue with his friend, Philip took the wiser strategy of inviting Nathanael to "come and see" for himself who this Jesus claimed to be. Clever arguments rarely win people to the Gospel - but an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ can change one's life forever. When people are receptive to the word of Christ and when they see his love in action, the Lord Jesus himself, through the power of the Holy Spirit, touches their hearts and opens their minds to recognize that he truly is the Son of God who reveals the Father's love and truth to us.
When Philip brought Nathanael to Jesus, Jesus did
something which only God could do! He opened Nathanael's heart and his
innermost thoughts and desires to God's revelation. Jesus called Nathanael a
true "Israelite in whom there is no guile." God had chosen Jacob, who
was given the name Israel, over his twin brother Essau, because Jacob was a man
of faith, without guile or cunning like Essau (Genesis 25:27). Nathanael,
like Jacob, hungered for God and believed in God's promises. Nathanael knew the
Scriptures. He had read the law and the prophets. And like Jacob he was waiting
for the fulfillment of God's promises to his people Israel. Nathanael was an
earnest seeker of God. He not only sought to grow in understanding of God's
word, but he sought an intimate personal relationship with God as well. That is
why he was willing to meet Jesus, to see if perhaps this miracle worker from
Galilee might be the long-awaited Messiah and Savior.
God's word brings blessing and refreshment for
those who receive it
What is the significance of Jesus' revelation of seeing Nathanael "under the fig tree"? For the people of Israel, the fig tree was a symbol of God's peace and blessing (1 Kings 4:24b-25, Micah 4:4). It provided shade from the midday sun and a cool refreshing place to retreat, pray, and reflect on God's word. Rabbis often gathered their disciples under the shade of the fig tree to teach them the wisdom and revelation of God's word in the Scriptures. The rabbis had an expression for comparing the fig tree to being nourished with God's word in Scripture, "He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit."
What is the significance of Jesus' revelation of seeing Nathanael "under the fig tree"? For the people of Israel, the fig tree was a symbol of God's peace and blessing (1 Kings 4:24b-25, Micah 4:4). It provided shade from the midday sun and a cool refreshing place to retreat, pray, and reflect on God's word. Rabbis often gathered their disciples under the shade of the fig tree to teach them the wisdom and revelation of God's word in the Scriptures. The rabbis had an expression for comparing the fig tree to being nourished with God's word in Scripture, "He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit."
Jesus offers the greatest gift possible - peace and
friendship with God
It is very likely that Nathanael had been thinking about God's word while sitting "under his fig tree" and reflecting on God's promise to send a Messiah King who would free his people from sin and oppression and usher in God's kingdom of righteousness and peace for the whole world. Perhaps Nathanael dozed off for a midday nap and dreamt of God's kingdom like Jacob had dreamt when God gave him a vision of a great ladder which united earth with heaven (see Genesis 28:12-17). Through the gift of revelation Nathanael recognized that Jesus was truly the Messiah, the everlasting "Son of God and King of Israel" (John 1:49). The Lord Jesus offered Nathanael the greatest gift of all - the gift of friendship with God and the offer of free access to God's throne in heaven.
It is very likely that Nathanael had been thinking about God's word while sitting "under his fig tree" and reflecting on God's promise to send a Messiah King who would free his people from sin and oppression and usher in God's kingdom of righteousness and peace for the whole world. Perhaps Nathanael dozed off for a midday nap and dreamt of God's kingdom like Jacob had dreamt when God gave him a vision of a great ladder which united earth with heaven (see Genesis 28:12-17). Through the gift of revelation Nathanael recognized that Jesus was truly the Messiah, the everlasting "Son of God and King of Israel" (John 1:49). The Lord Jesus offered Nathanael the greatest gift of all - the gift of friendship with God and the offer of free access to God's throne in heaven.
Jesus promises that we will dwell with the
living God
What does Jesus mean when he says "you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man"? One of the most remarkable revelations recorded in the Bible is the dream of Jacob (Genesis 28:12-17). God had opened a door for Jacob that brought him and his people into a new relationship with the living God. In Jacob's dream God revealed his angelic host and showed him the very throne of heaven and promised Jacob that he and his descendants would dwell with the living God.
What does Jesus mean when he says "you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man"? One of the most remarkable revelations recorded in the Bible is the dream of Jacob (Genesis 28:12-17). God had opened a door for Jacob that brought him and his people into a new relationship with the living God. In Jacob's dream God revealed his angelic host and showed him the very throne of heaven and promised Jacob that he and his descendants would dwell with the living God.
Jesus, the Son of God, unites earth and heaven in
himself
Jesus' response to Nathanael's new faith in accepting Jesus as the Messiah is the promise that Jesus himself will open the way for free access to the very throne of God in heaven. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to Jacob and his descendants - he is the way to the Father in heaven and the true "ladder (or stairway) which unites earth with heaven." In Jesus' incarnation, the divine Son of God taking on human flesh for our sake, we see the union of heaven and earth - God making his dwelling with us and bringing us into the heavenly reality of his kingdom through his Son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus' response to Nathanael's new faith in accepting Jesus as the Messiah is the promise that Jesus himself will open the way for free access to the very throne of God in heaven. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to Jacob and his descendants - he is the way to the Father in heaven and the true "ladder (or stairway) which unites earth with heaven." In Jesus' incarnation, the divine Son of God taking on human flesh for our sake, we see the union of heaven and earth - God making his dwelling with us and bringing us into the heavenly reality of his kingdom through his Son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus gives us free access to God's presence
Jesus' death on the cross, where he defeated sin and won new life for us through his resurrection, opens the way for each of us to come into a new relationship with God as his adopted sons and daughters. The Lord Jesus opens the way for each one of us to "ascend to heaven" and to bring "heaven to earth" in the daily circumstances of our lives. God's kingdom is present in those who seek him and who strive to do his will. Through the gift of faith God opens a door for each one of us to the heavenly reality of his kingdom. Do you see with the "eyes of faith" what the Lord Jesus has done for us?
Jesus' death on the cross, where he defeated sin and won new life for us through his resurrection, opens the way for each of us to come into a new relationship with God as his adopted sons and daughters. The Lord Jesus opens the way for each one of us to "ascend to heaven" and to bring "heaven to earth" in the daily circumstances of our lives. God's kingdom is present in those who seek him and who strive to do his will. Through the gift of faith God opens a door for each one of us to the heavenly reality of his kingdom. Do you see with the "eyes of faith" what the Lord Jesus has done for us?
"Heavenly Father, through your Son Jesus Christ,
you have opened the way to heaven for each one of us. As you personally
revealed yourself to your beloved patriarchs and apostles, so reveal yourself
to me that I may recognize your presence with me and know the power of your
kingdom at work in my life. May I always find joy and peace in your presence and
never lose sight of your everlasting kingdom."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The Lord of Angels, by John
Chrysostom (347-407 AD)
"Do you see how he [Jesus] leads him [Nathanael]
up little by little from the earth and causes him no longer to imagine him as
merely a man? For one to whom angels minister and on whom angels ascend and
descend, how could he be a man? This is why he said, 'You shall see greater
things than these.' And to prove this, he introduces the ministry of angels.
What he means is something like this: Does this, O Nathanael, seem to you a
great matter, and have you for this confessed me to be King of Israel? What then
will you say when you see 'angels ascending and descending on me'? He persuades
him by these words to receive him as Lord also of the angels. For on him as on
the king's own son, the royal ministers ascended and descended, once at the
season of the crucifixion, again at the time of the resurrection and the
ascension, and before this also, when they 'came and ministered to him'
(Matthew 4:11). They also ascended and descended when they proclaimed the good
news of his birth and cried, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace'
(Luke 2:14), when they came to Mary and also when they came to Joseph... Our
Lord made the present a proof of the future. After the powers he had already
shown, Nathanael would readily believe that much more would follow." (excerpt from the Homilies On the Gospel of
John 21.1)
FEAST OF
SAINT BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, JOHN 1:45-51
(Revelation 21:9b-14; Psalm 145)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, JOHN 1:45-51
(Revelation 21:9b-14; Psalm 145)
KEY VERSE: "Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'” (Jn 1:46).
TO KNOW: Nathanael (called "Bartholomew" in the synoptic gospels) was skeptical when Philip told him that Jesus was the promised Messiah of God. The scriptures said that the messiah would come from David's city, Bethlehem in Judah (Mi 5:1), not from a lowly place like Nazareth in Galilee. Philip invited Nathanael to come and judge for himself. Jesus overcame Nathanael's doubts by a demonstration of supernatural knowledge: "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree" (v.48). Jesus said that Nathanael was guileless, a "true Israelite" like Jacob, the first to bear the name "Israel" (Gn 32:29). Even though Jacob was a man of deception, he witnessed angelic beings ascending and descending to heaven (Gn 28:12). Nathanael would see even greater things in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
TO LOVE: Have I responded to Jesus' invitation to follow him today?
TO SERVE: St. Bartholomew, help me to overcome any doubts that I might have.
SAINT BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE
In the Gospel of John, Bartholomew is not mentioned in the list of the Apostles. In the other gospels, Nathanael is not mentioned, but the place after Philip is accorded to Bartholomew. Hence, many Scripture scholars believe Bartholomew is the Nathanael in question. Nathanael bar Tolomai (or Bartholomew) was probably a close friend of Philip as his name is always mentioned in the Gospels in connection with him, and it was Philip who brought Bartholomew to Jesus. Nathanael may have written a gospel, now lost, as it is mentioned in other writings of the time. He may have preached in Asia Minor, Ethiopia, India, and Armenia where local tradition says that he was flayed and beheaded.
Thursday 24
August 2017
St Bartholomew.
Apocalypse
21:9-14. Psalm 144(145):10-13, 17-18. John 1:45-51.
Your
friends tell the glory of your kingship, Lord — Psalm 144(145):10-13, 17-18
‘Can
anything good come out of Nazareth?’
These are the first words we hear
from Bartholomew—called Nathanael here—in John’s gospel. Like all of us, he
shared the prejudices of his time. Nazareth was a tiny town far removed from
the political and religious heart of Israel in Jerusalem, and not even
mentioned in non-Christian writings of the time. Who could reasonably expect a
prophet to come from there?
Yet this apostle was not totally
controlled by his prejudices. He was willing to go to see Jesus. In their
encounter, he came to judge differently.
Jesus, let me be open to you and
to other people, aware of my prejudices but ready to see more deeply to the
real person beneath the outward image of the other.
ST. BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE
Saint Bartholomew is one of the Twelve Apostles, mentioned sixth
in the three Gospel lists (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14), and seventh in
the list of Acts (1:13). The name (Bartholomaios) means "son of
Talmai" which was an ancient Hebrew name.
Besides being listed as an Apostle, he is not otherwise mentioned in the New Testament, at least not under the name Bartholomew: many ancient writers, and Catholic tradition have identified Bartholomew as Nathaniel in the Gospel of John (John 1:45-51, and 21:2).
Besides being listed as an Apostle, he is not otherwise mentioned in the New Testament, at least not under the name Bartholomew: many ancient writers, and Catholic tradition have identified Bartholomew as Nathaniel in the Gospel of John (John 1:45-51, and 21:2).
The
Gospel passage read at Mass on the feast of Saint Bartholomew is precisely this
passage from John (1:45-51) where Nathaniel is introduced to Jesus by his
friend Phillip, and Jesus says of him "Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him (1:47)."
We
are presented with the Apostle's character in this brief and beautiful dialogue
with the Lord Jesus. He is a good Jew, honest and innocent, a just man, who
devotes much time to quiet reflection and prayer - "under the fig tree
(1:48)" - and has been awaiting the Messiah, the Holy One of God.
At
Jesus' mention that "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig
tree, I saw you (1:48)," Nathaniel responded "Rabbi, you are the Son
of God! You are the King of Israel (1:49)!"
Being
"a true child of Israel," Nathaniel was a man well-read in the
Scriptures and knew what they said of the Messiah and where he would come from.
This is why he is skeptical of Phillip's claim that Jesus is the Messiah,
"Can anything good come out of Nazareth (1:46)?"
But
Nathaniel was lacking "duplicity" - that is, his heart was undivided,
his intentions pure - his openness to reality was always ready to recognize and
surrender to the truth when he encountered it. He remained open to his friend
Phillip's invitation to "Come and see (1:46)."
In
encountering Jesus and hearing His words, he found himself face to face with
the Truth Himself, and, like John the Baptist's leap in his mother's womb at
the Lord's presence, Nathaniel's words lept out of his own heart in a clear and
simple confession of faith, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the
King of Israel!"
Jesus,
in Matthew 5:8, says, "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see
God." In Nathaniel we have an example of the pure man who sees -
recognizes - God when confronted with Him, and on seeing Him believes in
Him, and upon believing in Him, follows Him.
Nothing
is known for sure about the life of Nathaniel/Bartholomew after the Ascension
of Jesus, but tradition holds that he preached in the East and died a martyr's
death in Armenia, being flayed alive for having won converts to the Lord Jesus.
LECTIO: ST. BARTHOLOMEW,
APOSTLE
Lectio Divina:
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Ordinary
Time
1)
Opening prayer
Father,
help us to seek the values
that will bring us enduring joy in this changing world.
In our desire for what you promise
make us one in mind and heart.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
help us to seek the values
that will bring us enduring joy in this changing world.
In our desire for what you promise
make us one in mind and heart.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
2)
Gospel Reading - John 1,45-51
The
next day, Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found him of whom
Moses in the Law and the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.'
Nathanael said to him, 'From Nazareth? Can anything good come from that place?'
Philip replied, 'Come and see.'
When
Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, 'There, truly, is an Israelite in whom
there is no deception.' Nathanael asked, 'How do you know me?' Jesus replied,
'Before Philip came to call you, I saw you under the fig tree.' Nathanael
answered, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the king of Israel.' Jesus
replied, 'You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree.
You are going to see greater things than that.'
And
then he added, 'In all truth I tell you, you will see heaven open and the
angels of God ascending and descending over the Son of man.'
3)
Reflection
•
Jesus returned to Galilee. He met Philip and called him telling him: “Follow
me!” The purpose of the call is always the same: “to follow Jesus”. The first
Christians sought to preserve the names of the first disciples, and of some
they even kept their family names and the name of their place of origin.
Philip, Andrew and Peter were from Bethsaida (Jn 1, 44). Nathanael was from
Cana. Today many forget the names of the persons who were at the origin of
their communities. To remember the names is a way of preserving the identity.
•
Philip meets Nathanael and speaks to him about Jesus: “We have found him of
whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote, Jesus, son of Joseph from
Nazareth”. Jesus is the one to whom all the history of the Old Testament
refers.
•
Nathanael asks: “From Nazareth? Can anything good come from that place?”
Probably, even in his question there was some of the rivalry which existed
among the small villages of the same region: Cana and Nazareth. Besides,
according to the official teaching of the Scribes, the Messiah would come from
Bethlehem, in Judah. He could not come from Nazareth in Galilee (Jn 7, 41-42).
Philip gives the same answer which Jesus had given to the other two disciples:
“Come and see for yourself!” It is not by imposing, but rather by seeing that
persons are convinced. Once again the same way: to meet, to experience, to
share, to witness, to lead toward Jesus!
•
Jesus sees Nathanael and says: “Truly, he is an Israelite in whom there is no
deception”. And affirms that he already knew him when he was under the fig
tree. How could Nathanael be an “authentic or true Israelite” if he did not
accept Jesus as the Messiah? Nathanael “was under the fig tree”. The fig tree
was the symbol of Israel (cf. Mi 4, 4; Zc 3, 10; 1 Kg 5,5). An authentic
Israelite is the one who knows how to detach himself from his own ideas when he
perceives that they are not in agreement with God’s project. The Israelite who
is not ready to bring about this conversion is neither authentic nor honest.
Nathanael is authentic. He was waiting for the Messiah according to the
official teaching of the time (Jn 7, 41-42.52). This is why at the beginning,
he did not accept a Messiah coming from Nazareth. But the encounter with Jesus
helped him to understand that God’s project is not always as people imagine or
desire that it be. He recognizes, acknowledges his deception or mistake, he
changes his idea, accepts God as Messiah and confesses: “Rabi, you are the Son
of God: you are the King of Israel !” The confession of Nathanael is only at
the beginning: The one who will be faithful will see heaven open and the angels
of God ascending and descending over the Son of man. He will experience that
Jesus is the new bond of union between God and us, human beings. It is the
dream of Jacob which has become a reality (Gen 28, 10-22).
4)
Personal questions
•
Which is the title of Jesus that pleases you the most? Why?
•
Have you had an intermediary between you and Jesus?
5)
Concluding prayer
Upright
in all that he does,
Yahweh
acts only in faithful love. (Ps 145,17)
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