Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
Biographical Information about St. Bartholomew[1]
Readings for the Feast of Saint Bartholomew[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Revelations 21:9b-14
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.
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Commentary on Rv 21:9b-14
God shows St. John the New Jerusalem, Christ’s heavenly kingdom. The Evangelist has borrowed much of his description from Ezekiel (Chapters 40-48). He is taken to a high mountain (Ezekiel 40 2-3) and sees the heavenly vision as God’s presence transforms his kingdom into a radiant fortress. St. John’s description supports images of evangelization (see 2 Corinthians 4:6). The repeating number 12 (twelve angels, twelve tribes, twelve names) alludes to the perfect continuity between God’s relationship with the Old Testament peoples (Ezekiel 48:30-35 and Exodus 28:17-21) and the Church (Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:29-30). He concludes his vision providing an analogy; the preaching of the Apostles (and Prophets) is to the Church as a foundation is to an edifice (see Ephesians 2:20).
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18
Psalm 145 is a hymn of praise. In this selection we hear the singer rejoice in the image of God’s Heavenly Kingdom as its very existence announces God’s glory to the world. He supports his faithful servants and blesses their efforts.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 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.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 1:45-51
St. John’s Gospel gives us the story of the call of Bartholomew (Nathanael). The symbolism used in the story is rich in the Hebrew tradition. When Jesus comments; “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him,” he is referring to Jacob who first was called Israel but tricked his father Isaac, receiving his blessing above Esau and therefore considered duplicitous. “True son” would relate him to Abraham.
Next we hear the Lord respond to Bartholomew when he asks “How do you know me?” with the statement “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” The fig tree is a symbol of Messianic Peace. In this statement Jesus identifies himself as the Messiah. Bartholomew understands and immediately responds in faith “Rabbi, you are the Son of God…”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
St. Bartholomew’s Feast places us in a bit of a quandary. Based upon references elsewhere in scripture, we believe that St. Bartholomew and Nathanael was the same person. Other sources still say his original name was Jesus and he changed it to avoid any possibility of confusion.
From a spiritual perspective his image is both inviting and seems almost a warning. As one of The Twelve, he received the respect and admiration due one of the original members of that tiny group that remained faithful and spread the knowledge of Christ throughout the world. At the same time, the images we have of him are rather gruesome. He is said to have been flayed alive (skinned) and the most famous image of him, painted by Michelangelo in the "The Last Judgment" (Sistine Chapel), shows him holding his own skin.
The readings tell us he was brought to Christ by another one of the twelve, Philip and that Jesus immediately accepted him saying; “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” an apparent reference to Jacob, the brother of Esau who, through a ruse, stole his brother’s blessing and was labeled as duplicitous (Genesis 32:29). Being straightforward as he was St. John tells us that Bartholomew challenged Jesus saying; “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered with a reference to having seen Bartholomew lying under a fig tree. This, according to the notes on this passage, refers to a symbol of messianic peace. In other words Jesus saw Bartholomew (Nathanael) as a person who had already experienced the peace of the kingdom as transformed by the Lord. Is it any wonder then that once this revelation had been made another followed from the lips of Bartholomew saying; “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” (In other words, Bartholomew labeled Jesus as the Messiah!)
Where does the image of Bartholomew take us? That largely unknown Apostle, who, tradition has it, carried the Gospel to Asia Minor, Ethiopia, India and Armenia; friend of Philip, and martyr, is one more example of faith to inspire us. Why should we expect each of the Twelve to have become famous? Jesus, their example and ours, valued humility, placing the Father always first. Is it surprising that one of his closest friends would choose to have the Lord’s name remembered instead of his own?
Today we actually get a great lesson from the Apostle, Bartholomew. Let us all pray that, at the end of our lives, the Lord’s name will be thought of as people remember us.
Pax
[1] The picture used is detail from “The Last Judgment” by Michaelangelo, Saint Bartholomew holding the knife of his martyrdom and his flayed skin. 1535-1541
[2] ALTRE
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Biographical Information about St. Bartholomew[1]
Readings for the Feast of Saint Bartholomew[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Revelations 21:9b-14
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Rv 21:9b-14
God shows St. John the New Jerusalem, Christ’s heavenly kingdom. The Evangelist has borrowed much of his description from Ezekiel (Chapters 40-48). He is taken to a high mountain (Ezekiel 40 2-3) and sees the heavenly vision as God’s presence transforms his kingdom into a radiant fortress. St. John’s description supports images of evangelization (see 2 Corinthians 4:6). The repeating number 12 (twelve angels, twelve tribes, twelve names) alludes to the perfect continuity between God’s relationship with the Old Testament peoples (Ezekiel 48:30-35 and Exodus 28:17-21) and the Church (Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:29-30). He concludes his vision providing an analogy; the preaching of the Apostles (and Prophets) is to the Church as a foundation is to an edifice (see Ephesians 2:20).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18
Psalm 145 is a hymn of praise. In this selection we hear the singer rejoice in the image of God’s Heavenly Kingdom as its very existence announces God’s glory to the world. He supports his faithful servants and blesses their efforts.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 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.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 1:45-51
St. John’s Gospel gives us the story of the call of Bartholomew (Nathanael). The symbolism used in the story is rich in the Hebrew tradition. When Jesus comments; “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him,” he is referring to Jacob who first was called Israel but tricked his father Isaac, receiving his blessing above Esau and therefore considered duplicitous. “True son” would relate him to Abraham.
Next we hear the Lord respond to Bartholomew when he asks “How do you know me?” with the statement “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” The fig tree is a symbol of Messianic Peace. In this statement Jesus identifies himself as the Messiah. Bartholomew understands and immediately responds in faith “Rabbi, you are the Son of God…”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
St. Bartholomew’s Feast places us in a bit of a quandary. Based upon references elsewhere in scripture, we believe that St. Bartholomew and Nathanael was the same person. Other sources still say his original name was Jesus and he changed it to avoid any possibility of confusion.
From a spiritual perspective his image is both inviting and seems almost a warning. As one of The Twelve, he received the respect and admiration due one of the original members of that tiny group that remained faithful and spread the knowledge of Christ throughout the world. At the same time, the images we have of him are rather gruesome. He is said to have been flayed alive (skinned) and the most famous image of him, painted by Michelangelo in the "The Last Judgment" (Sistine Chapel), shows him holding his own skin.
The readings tell us he was brought to Christ by another one of the twelve, Philip and that Jesus immediately accepted him saying; “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” an apparent reference to Jacob, the brother of Esau who, through a ruse, stole his brother’s blessing and was labeled as duplicitous (Genesis 32:29). Being straightforward as he was St. John tells us that Bartholomew challenged Jesus saying; “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered with a reference to having seen Bartholomew lying under a fig tree. This, according to the notes on this passage, refers to a symbol of messianic peace. In other words Jesus saw Bartholomew (Nathanael) as a person who had already experienced the peace of the kingdom as transformed by the Lord. Is it any wonder then that once this revelation had been made another followed from the lips of Bartholomew saying; “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” (In other words, Bartholomew labeled Jesus as the Messiah!)
Where does the image of Bartholomew take us? That largely unknown Apostle, who, tradition has it, carried the Gospel to Asia Minor, Ethiopia, India and Armenia; friend of Philip, and martyr, is one more example of faith to inspire us. Why should we expect each of the Twelve to have become famous? Jesus, their example and ours, valued humility, placing the Father always first. Is it surprising that one of his closest friends would choose to have the Lord’s name remembered instead of his own?
Today we actually get a great lesson from the Apostle, Bartholomew. Let us all pray that, at the end of our lives, the Lord’s name will be thought of as people remember us.
Pax
[1] The picture used is detail from “The Last Judgment” by Michaelangelo, Saint Bartholomew holding the knife of his martyrdom and his flayed skin. 1535-1541
[2] ALTRE
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
4 comments:
Dear Deacon,
I thank God for you and for your blog. I read it everyday.
I just want to bring 2 things to your attention which need to be corrected.
1. Commentary on the Gospel reading. Here you made reference to Jacob..Israel as one of Joseph's brothers. Was Israel (Jacob) not Joseph's father?
2. Under the reflections, paragraph 3, line 4,Jacob is referred to as the brother of Isaac. I guess you meant it to read as brother of Essau?
Now, my comments/questions:
1.The whole duplicity issue did not come out clear for me. Why did Jesus say there was no duplicity? Was he referencing to the name Jesus or was he saying he was not a fraud or something of the sort? Kindly explain this further.
2. The cruel and inhuman way these saints were martyred sends shudders down my spine. I know we have been called to suffer as Christians but God is faithful too. In the old testament, before Christ, God saved his people miraculously. He was with Shadrach, Mesh. and Abed. in the furnace and Daniel in the den. Why did he not deliver these saints because the Messiah had already come and suffered for us all already. Why did God allow more suffering of the saints and not deliver them? Christ has suffered already. Look at how James was beheaded; I read the whole passage in the blog. I am so sorry. To be skinned alive! This is unimaginable pain. The picture of the saint holding his own skin. Oh my God! Have mercy. I have such sorrow for their suffering. May God help us in our seemingly 'small' sufferings to remain faithful to him. We (God's people) continue to be 'beheaded' and 'skinned' everyday in many ways too. We offer our skins up to God. May the Lord give us courage to bear all these and also deliver us from evil, until He calls us to to a life of Glory or Christ appears to take us up.
Judith,
Thanks for catching the relationship errors. I believe I have all of Jacob’s family tree sorted out correctly now. That will teach me to multitask.
I'll respond next with two comments:
1.) Why did Jesus say there was no duplicity? Jesus sees Nathanial (Bartholomew) approach with Philip. It is likely that Jesus knew Philip as a disciple of St. John the Baptist. We hear the words Jesus says:
“Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.”
First, Jesus has identified him as a “true child of Israel” meaning here is one who believes in God and his saving works. Here is one who understands the spirit of the Law and the Prophets, not like the Pharisees and scribes who see only what is on the surface or use their rank to enhance their own position or income. A “true child of Israel” would look for the promise of the continuation of King David’s line. That is why, in his earlier conversation with Philip he said, upon hearing that Jesus was from Nazareth, he said “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nazareth was not the prophetic home of the Messiah – it was the city of David, Bethlehem. Nathanial doubted Philip’s identification of Jesus as the “the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets”.
“There is no duplicity in him” continues that description. Most scholars agree the reference to duplicity is a veiled reference to Jacob’s act of ticking his father (at his mother’s encouragement) into giving him the blessing reserved for his heir. This was a statement of Nathanial’s character – he, according to Christ, was honest and trustworthy. He was not putting on a pious show in an attempt to get close to this Rabbi whom John the Baptist and Philip had identified “the one.”
From this point he became one of the twelve with all of the promises and trials, all of the blessings and challenges that went along with that title.
St. John Chrysostom wrote this of the apostles in a homily on St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians which is read in the Divine Office today:
How then account for the fact that these men, who in
Christ's lifetime did not stand up to the attacks by the
Jews, set forth to do battle with the whole world once
Christ was dead -- if, as you claim, Christ did not rise and
speak to them and rouse their courage? Did they perhaps
say to themselves: "What is this? He could not save him-
self but he will protect us? He did not help himself when
he was alive, but now that he is dead he will extend a
helping hand to us? In his lifetime he brought no nation
under his banner, but by uttering his name we will win
over the whole world?" Would it not be wholly irrational
even to think such thoughts, much less to act upon them?
It is evident, then, that if they had not seen him risen
and had proof of his power, they would not have risked
so much.
To your second question:
2. Why did he not deliver these saints because the Messiah had already come and suffered for us all already? Why did God allow more suffering of the saints and not deliver them? These questions presuppose that because the Apostles (in this case Bartholomew) were his faithful servants God decided they should undergo torture and death. (Why did he not deliver…? Why did God allow…?).
God created all of us with free will. The fact that martyrs freely walk into situations where their message will bring them pain and death does not mean they are testing the Father’s love for them. They do not go into the lion’s den expecting God to cause the lion to lay down with the lamb or the flames of the furnace not to burn. They go in knowing that what is truly important cannot be harmed. They go into face physical destruction in the calm assurance that their spiritual selves are safe from any harm. Their life in this world is forfeited for the glory of the next, their goal of demonstrating their love of God, bringing light to the world is achieved. The Heavenly Father accepted their sacrifice as he accepted the sacrifice of his own Son who, with a breath of his nostril, he could have saved from the pain and agony of his betrayal.
There is much more to say but I believe you had already stated down this path as you wrote your comment.
Pax,
Dcn. Jim
Thank you Deacon,
This is so much food for thot. Thank you.
Judith
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