HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW (APOSTLE)

HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW (APOSTLE) AUGUST 24

Revelation 21:9-14;  John 1: 45-51

Today being the 24th of August, following the date fixed by Pope Pius V,  we are privileged to celebrate the feast of St. Bartholomew, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ as listed by the Evangelists (Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:14; Acts 1:13). He is an honest man, a man of integrity and truth. A man with an open minded-heart in search of the truth. A man without double dealing.

Birthed in Cana, Bartholomew in Aramaic means “bar-Talmai” which translates as “son of Talmai” (son of the farmer). Invariably, this could be his surname or family name, other than his personal name. Hence, scholars had come to the probable conclusion that Bartholomew could be the same person as Nathanael (Gift of God). This is hinged on the argument that while the Synoptic writers mentioned the name Bartholomew when listing the twelve apostles of Jesus, St. John the Evangelist left out the name Bartholomew and used Nathanael instead.  Furthermore, while the synoptics associated Bartholomew with Philips, St. John the Evangelist associated Nathaneal with Philip as well. 

As an honest man, he did not hide his feelings when Philip informed him that they had found the one of whom Moses and the prophets wrote: Jesus of Nazareth. He did not hesitate to respond in the following words: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (Jn 1:46). Verily, Nazareth was an obscured vilage that wasn't looking promising, and never mentioned in the old testament. Hence, in his doubtful espression, he didn't say what Nazareth was not. His honesty led him also to be the first to declare the identity of Jesus: “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel” (Jn 1: 49). 

His doubt, notwithstanding, he is always open to the truth. At the invitation of Philip: “come and see”. He did not hesitate to honour the invitation of going to encounter Jesus. His heart was not closed towards the truth.  No wonder, in his encounter with Jesus (The Truth personified), Jesus described him as a true Israelite in whom there is no guile (Jn 1: 45-51). A man of simplicity and pure heart. What the patriarch Jacob could only perceive in dream (Gen 28:12), Jesus promised him to see in reality: to behold the son of man when he comes in the glory of his Father with his holy angels (Mk 8:38).

Like the rest of the Apostles, Bartholomew witnessed the teachings, preaching, miracles and deeds of the Lord. History, has it that he also witness to the Gospel of Christ in India where he was martyred. Some say he was skinned alive and beheaded. 

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Christian faith. Bartholomew poured out his life as a libation for the Gospel and the transmission of the Christian faith. Hence, he became part of the twelve foundation stones upon which the city was built, each one of which bore the name of one of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb ( Rev. 21: 14). Friends in Christ, we are called to emulate the exemplary live of St. Bartholomew, a life of honesty, truth and integrity. We must not close our hearts toward the truth like the scribes and Pharisees rather we must be ministers of the truth and propagators of the values of the kingdom of God. The celebration calls us to renew our faith in the Apostolic teachings and remain steadfast at moments of persecution for the sake of the Gospel of Christ and our salvation.

May God grant us the purity of heart in all we do.

Have a beautiful day!

Fr Remi osj