Saint Bartholomew
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Today is the Feast of the Apostle Nathaniel, also known as Bartholomew
John 1:45-51
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, the one about whom the prophets wrote: he is Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.’ ‘From Nazareth?’ said Nathanael ‘Can anything good come from that place?’ ‘Come and see’ replied Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, ‘There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.’ ‘How do you know me?’ said Nathanael. ‘Before Philip came to call you,’ said Jesus ‘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 will see greater things than that.’ And then he added ‘I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.’
Philip knows Jesus and wants Bartholomew to know Jesus. Philip has the courage to invite Bartholomew to an encounter with Jesus. It is not the job of Philip to make Bartholomew believe, for he is free like every person and must make his own choice. It’s only Philip’s job to make the invitation.
Even though Bartholomew initially rejects Philip by saying “From Nazareth?...‘Can anything good come from that place?” Yet, Philip was not deterred and says to his friend “Come and see for yourself.”
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Philip led Bartholomew to Jesus. Then Bartholomew took responsibility and, with his Apostle friend St. Jude, they introduced Jesus to the people of Armenia in the 1st century where Bartholomew was martyred by being skinned alive, as graphically depicted by Michael Angelo in the Sistine Chapel.
I’m not sure how Jude got out alive – maybe that’s why he is the saint of hopeless cases…
In 300 AD St. Gregory (called the Illuminator because he brought the light of Christ to the Armenians) converted the king of Armenia, and subsequently the entire nation to Christianity. This was the first nation to become Catholic.
In spite of being conquered by Islamic invaders in the 7th century and under the Iron Curtain of the Atheist Soviet Union from 1920 to 1990, the vast majority of Armenians (90-97%) are Christian, members of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is one of the oldest Christian churches dating back, as we said to 300 AD.
The Armenians have withstood the most unimaginable attacks on their faith and retained it as a nation.
But it all started with Bartholemew…
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Many Christians think it is not their job to lead people to Jesus.
We may think it is the job of the Church or the priest or some program or video or book. Your bishop or priest can’t do that with everyone.
But the fact is: People come to God through other people – usually people they know, whom they trust, and most importantly people who know, understand, love and care for them. People who have delighted in them. This is your responsibility.
I wish I could reach every soul for Christ. But I can’t and I am not even supposed to.
My responsibility and that of The Holy Family School of Faith is to help you, the members of this movement fulfill your mission where you live and with whom you already have a relationship.
Your responsibility is to go to the people God has placed in your life.
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Where do we begin?
Many people do not think their lives are of any value. That’s why they find it hard to believe that God delights in them.
They need to know from some human person they can see that they have value. Only then will they believe God thinks they are valuable. So that is the first step in our mission. Show people their worth by delighting in them. When you are with another person, be interested in their life and express to them that you think it is fantastic just being with them.
Let’s begin with the people closest to you, those God has already placed in your life – that is your mission field. Let’s practice appreciation rather than annoyance.
Be Apostles of Delight
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Sundays are the most important Day God gave us for our mission
Take back Sundays by inviting family and friends to go to Mass with you to delight in the goodness of all God has done.
Then delight in the goodness of family and friends and creation by inviting them to do something good together – a meal, good conversation, a walk or activity outside in the beauty of nature, a game, a concert – do something together.
And delight in those who have no one to delight in them by inviting them to join you.
Establish a regular consistent habit of living this beautiful way of life every Sunday.
Then extend it to other days, especially Feast Days and special occasions. God made us for delight, not for sorrow so take any chance to celebrate the goodness of God, the goodness of creation and the goodness of one another.