HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF ST BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE
Revelations 21:9-14; Psalm 145; John 1:45-51
**********
Today is the feast day of St. Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, one of the Twelve Apostles. He is consistently referred to as Nathanael throughout the Gospel of John (John 1:45–49; 21:2). The Hebrew surname Bartholomew means “son of Tolmai.” So Tolmai, also known as Nathanael Bar-Tolmei, is the father of Bartholomew. The names of Philip and Bartholomew are connected in each list of the disciples, which could imply that they were close companions or even related. His famous quote, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” is well known. (John 1:46). He believed that Nazareth had little chance of producing the Messiah.
Nevertheless, Jesus gives us true insight into the character of Bartholomew. When Jesus saw him coming, He said, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” Jesus knew Bartholomew’s heart, just as he knows the heart of every man. Jesus’ assessment of Bartholomew was that he was a “true” son of Abraham, that is, a man who worshiped the true and living God without an iota of deceit or hypocrisy that characterized his time. Can this be said of us today?
After being blessed with the Holy Spirit’s powers on the first Pentecost, Bartholomew spread Christianity over Greater Armenia, Asia Minor, and western India. In the latter nation, he was detained and given a death sentence while preaching to idolaters.
He is the Patron saint of bookbinders; butchers; cobblers; nervous diseases; neurological diseases; Italy and Armenia.
St. Bartholomew, pray for us.
LET US PRAY
Strengthen in us, O Lord, the faith, by which the blessed Apostle Bartholomew clung wholeheartedly to your Son, and grant that through the help of his prayers your Church may become for all the nations the sacrament of salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
