ST. BARTHOLOMEW, THE APOSTLE
One of the Twelve and Witness to Christ – August 24
From an Honest Question to a Confession of Faith
Introduction
Sometimes we dismiss an invitation because we think we already know what to expect. A friend suggests that we return to church, read a Gospel passage, or join a time of prayer. We can think of several reasons to decline. Yet a simple invitation from someone we trust may be enough to make us reconsider.
When Philip told Nathanael about Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanael was skeptical. Philip invited him to come and see. Nathanael went, and the encounter changed the way he understood Jesus. The Church reads this Gospel on the feast of St. Bartholomew, whom Christian tradition identifies with Nathanael. It invites us to bring our questions to Christ and give him room to surprise us.
Who Was St. Bartholomew?
Bartholomew is named among the Twelve in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke and in the Acts of the Apostles. His name probably means “son of Tolmai.” The New Testament gives few details about him under that name.
Christian tradition has long identified Bartholomew with Nathanael, whom John’s Gospel describes as coming from Cana in Galilee. The Gospels do not explicitly state that the two names refer to the same person. The traditional identification explains why Nathanael’s encounter with Jesus has become central to the celebration of Bartholomew’s feast.
Philip’s Invitation to Come and See
Philip tells Nathanael that he has found the one about whom Moses and the prophets wrote. He identifies him as Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael questions whether anything good can come from that town. Philip replies, “Come and see.”
Philip gives his friend a way to find out for himself. He can introduce Nathanael to Jesus and allow the encounter to unfold. There is wisdom in that approach. When someone has reservations about the faith, we can hear them out and offer an invitation they are free to consider. We might read a Gospel passage together or accompany them to church if they would welcome the company.
Known by Christ
As Nathanael approaches, Jesus recognizes him as an Israelite without duplicity. Surprised, Nathanael asks how Jesus knows him. Jesus tells him that he saw him under the fig tree before Philip called him. John leaves the significance of that moment unexplained. What matters in the exchange is that Nathanael recognizes that Jesus already knows him.
This can encourage us when we hesitate to pray because our questions seem unworthy or our motives are mixed. We can tell Christ what we believe, what we find difficult, and what we hope to understand. Nathanael’s honesty gives the conversation a place to begin.
From Recognition to a Profession of Faith
Nathanael addresses Jesus as Rabbi and professes that he is the Son of God and the King of Israel. Jesus promises that he will see greater things. He speaks of heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
The image recalls Jacob’s dream of a stairway joining earth and heaven. In John’s Gospel, Jesus himself is the meeting place. Through him, we come to know the Father. Nathanael had begun by asking what could come from Nazareth. Jesus opens before him a horizon far wider than the question with which he began.
Faith often grows in this way. One encounter gives us enough trust to take a step, and the next step brings questions we could scarcely have imagined at the beginning.
An Apostle and a Witness
Later traditions associate Bartholomew with missionary journeys beyond the places named in the New Testament. Armenia is among the lands that honor him as an apostolic witness. The accounts of his travels and death differ, and the familiar image of Bartholomew holding a knife reflects the tradition that he was flayed. The Church honors him as an apostle and martyr.
The first reading provided for his feast in the Roman Rite gives us another image of his legacy. In Revelation, the names of the Twelve are inscribed on the foundations of the heavenly Jerusalem. Much of Bartholomew’s work remains hidden from us, yet he has a place among those whose witness helped lay the foundations of the Church.
A Life Connection
A young adult who has stopped attending church tells an aunt that the liturgy feels hard to follow and that everyone else seems to know what to do. The aunt listens and offers to go to the Holy Qurbana together. Afterward, she asks what the young adult noticed. They talk about one prayer that stood out and agree to come together again.
The aunt has taken Philip’s invitation seriously. She has made it possible for someone to draw nearer to Christ with a companion who will listen and make room for questions.
Eucharistic Connection
In the Holy Qurbana, Christ speaks to us through the Scriptures and gives us his Body and Blood in Holy Communion. We come as people already known by him. We can bring our gratitude and confidence, along with the questions we are still learning how to express.
As the Gospel is proclaimed, we can listen for a word that speaks to something in our lives. After Communion, we can ask for the courage to act on what we have heard. For someone who has been hesitant to take a step in faith, that prayer may be the beginning of a more personal response to Christ.
Messages and Call to Conversion
St. Bartholomew’s feast invites us to bring one honest question to Christ in prayer. We can read the account of Nathanael’s encounter slowly and notice how Jesus receives a person who comes with reservations.
We can also think of someone who has shown interest in the faith or spoken about a difficulty with it. Like Philip, we can offer a simple invitation and be willing to accompany the person who accepts it.
Conclusion
Philip invited Nathanael to come and see. Nathanael came with a question and found himself in the presence of someone who already knew him. Through the intercession of St. Bartholomew, may we approach Christ with honesty, grow in faith through our encounters with him, and help others find their way to him with patience and charity.
