We honor St. Bartholomew today who appears in St. John's Gospel as Nathaniel, the friend of of Philip. When Philip tells Nathaniel that he, Peter, James and John have found "the one" Moses and the prophets foretold, Nathaniel queries, "Can anything good come our of Nazareth?", such was the reputation of this poor village. Yet, when he meets Jesus who describes him as a true child of Israel in whom there is no duplicity and says he saw him under a fig tree before Philip called him, Nathaniel bursts out a a confession of faith rivaling Peter's: "Rabbi, you are the Son of god; you are the King of Israel." (Jn 1: 47). Later traditions have Bartholomew carrying the Gospel to India and Armenia, and giving his life in martyrdom, being flayed alive and beheaded. This is what his encounter with Jesus did to him, a total transformation.
Each day in prayer, reflection on Scripture, or participation in the Eucharist, we encounter Jesus. May we be transformed into zealous witnesses like Bartholomew and carry the Good News of Jesus to our families, our workplaces, our communities. St. Bartholomew, please give me just some of your zeal, if not all of it!
Bro. Rene
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