Feast August 24
Today is the Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle. According to three of the Gospels, his name was Bartholomew, but St. John calls him Nathanael. By whatever name we call him, we do not know much about Bartholomew. The First Reading (Revelation 21:9-14) focuses on the role of the Apostles as the foundation upon which God builds the New Jerusalem. The Responsorial Psalm (from Psalm 145) speaks about the friends of God making known the proclamation of the glory of God. Nathanael, in the Gospel today (John 1:45-51), is praised by Jesus for his honesty and faith.
The Book of Revelation refers to the New Jerusalem as the Bride of Christ. The New Jerusalem is built on the foundation of the twelve apostles – the twelve individuals who were the traveling companions of Jesus. These twelve are the ones who continue the ministry of Jesus – the proclaiming of the Good News to all the world. Bartholomew (Nathanael) is one of the twelve. As foundation stones, they are the ones from whom all the rest of the edifice take their strength, since they are attached to the cornerstone who is the Jesus.
Psalm 145 continues the theme of the Good News being announced by the “friends” of God. They joyfully sing of God’s glory to all the nations.
The Gospel of John speaks six times about the man named Nathanael, whereas the person named Bartholomew is mentioned only once in each of the other three other Gospels. John portrays Nathanael as a man who speaks his mind. In our reading today, Nathanael says (speaking of Jesus of Nazareth), “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” After seeing and hearing Jesus, however, Nathanael professes his faith in the words, “Rabbi (Teacher), You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” His former disbelief in anyone from Nazareth is changed to an awareness of the person of Jesus.
As I reflect on the readings, I flash back to my understanding of the Apostles from my childhood. I thought of them as these super-heroes who were beyond human understanding. To me they were more powerful than the heroes that I had at that time (Superman, Batman, Zorro, Davy Crockett, The Tick). I saw the apostles as saintly individuals, people who were not even human. They were somehow only slightly less than divine. Yet, the more I study and reflect on these foundation stones of faith, the more I realize how much like them I am. They came from ordinary backgrounds; they had doubts, they had questions. What changed their lives were two things: a personal knowledge and relationship with Jesus; and the empowerment by the Holy Spirit. It was only after spending time, day in and day out, with Jesus and listening to His teachings that they became the foundation on which we – the living stones of the edifice known as the church, the people of faith – have grown. And they received their strength from the cornerstone, who is Jesus. It was only with the full coming of the Holy Spirit that they were able to be more than disciples. They became apostles, that is, “ones who were sent on a mission.” They were in-spired (had the Spirit within them) and en-thusiastic (had “God in” them and they were “in God”).
We are members of the apostolic church. That means that we are not only built upon the foundation of the apostles and receive our faith from them and are strengthened by them, but we are also called to continue their mission, their apostolate – the mission of Jesus. We, too, are being sent out into the world to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Some of us may feel a little reluctant to be apostles. It may be because we don’t think that we are holy enough. Others are afraid that what happened to the apostles will happen to them – martyrdom! Others may say they are not prepared to be apostles. The fact is the original twelve were not that holy in the beginning. They, too, were afraid of dying – they ran away when Jesus was arrested. They were not prepared when they were first called. Yet as they deepened their relationship with Jesus and came to understand what He told them – especially after the coming of the Holy Spirit – they became courageous and were willing to step out in faith to announce the Good News, the Glory of God.
We are all called to be saints, holy women and holy men of God, and to be apostles, people sent out on a mission. This is our vocation. This is our destiny. We must carry on the ministry and mission of Jesus, and the traditions of those first “apostles.” It may seem like a mission impossible, yet with God, all things are possible. Are you ready to accept the invitation?