The Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
Saint Bartholomew, Apostle, (Feast)
Today we celebrate the feast of St Bartholomew, Apostle. As an apostle, which means someone sent, he clearly understood his vocation and calling as a witness to God's love manifested in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Hence, today's entrance antiphon from Psalm 95:2-5, as it were invites us to join Saint Bartholomew in his witnessing and said, “proclaim the salvation of God day by day; tell among the nations his glory”.
Very little is known about him. It is believed that he was the Nathaniel whom Philip brought to Jesus. But one thing for sure is that, from the moment Philip took him to meet Jesus he never stopped following Jesus even to the point of death. He was originally from Cana. By the way, As I said, nothing much is known about him. But Roman record of those killed for the sake of faith, gives account of him being martyred in Armenia and skinned alive according to the Persian custom. He is the patron saint of the sick. So if you are sick in any way, or have been praying for someone sick, Saint Bartholomew’s intercessions can be very powerful because he himself knew the pains and sufferings when he was skinned alive according to the Persian custom.
Yes, Bartholomew, here on earth was skinned alive. But he has been clothed with the eternal glory of God. As an Apostle, he faithfully gave his life for the one who had already died for. He faithfully died in the love of the one he had loved him with an everlasting love. H is one of the twelve apostles of the lamb the twelve foundation stones which bore the Holy City of God which the Saint John called the bride that the lamb married in today’s first reading.
Having accepted God’s love for us through Jesus Christ, his death became a passage into life, to behold the face of the one who awaits all of us, to embrace and satisfy on the longings of our hearts.
Bartholomew’s uprightness did not go unnoticed by Heaven. Hence, Philip brough him to Jesus in today’s Gospel from Jn 1:45-51, Jesus call him, an Israelite who deserved the name incapable of deceit”. Marvelled when Jesus said he saw him under the tree, immediately he replied, Rabbi, you are the Son of God. As it were, Jesus said, you haven’t seen nothing yet. You will see greater things. You will see heaven open and above the Son of Man, the Angels of God ascending and descending. Here on earth Bartholomew believed these words of Jesus, having been crown with the glory of Martyrdom, he now beholds what he believed and hoped for here on earth.
In the glorious inheritance of the saints in light, all the pains, shame, struggles and fears he experienced when he was skinned alive, are all gone. All that is left an eternal and all-consuming bliss of God’s presence. Indeed, grace has won. He was struck down wounded, killed, but he was not destroyed for he had committed his spirit into the hands of the one who alone holds the key to hades and life. His uprightness has been rewarded.
For many of us who are now beginning to think that their uprightness is unnoticed by God, for many of us who are getting tired in bearing the pains and crosses that come with our faith. Remember Hebrew 6:10 which says that God is not unjust to forget your labour of love. St Paul tells the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 4:16, Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
Let us pray for those you are sick among us especially sicknesses that seem to defy all medical treatments. Those sicknesses that have made us wonder if God has forgotten you in your time of need. I do not know the report you may have received concerning the sicknesses. But I would like to invite you to ask for the powerful intercession of Saint Bartholomew. Our God is still the Mighty Healer. His word says in Exodus 15:26, “I am the Lord your healer”. And in Exodus 23:25, I will take away sicknesses from you and give you full life. As we pray for healing let us imitate Saint Bartholomew in his uprightness. As we contemplate the outcome of the life, may we be strengthened to imitate him in godliness and commitment to Jesus Christ even in sufferings.
The lord who gave Saint Bartholomew victory over the wickedness of this world, is also our God and will grant us victory as we put all our trust in him who is always faithful.
Let us pray
Eternal Father, may we obtain your help through the intercession Saint Bartholomew and so offer ourselves to you as a living and sweet smalling sacrifice as he did and was crowned with eternal glory. Through Christ our Lord. Amen Saint Bartholomew—Pray for us
The lord be with you
May almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Go in the peace of Christ.