St Bartholomew was born at Cana in Galilee. He was led to Jesus by the apostle Philip. Nothing is known for sure about the life of Nathaniel/Bartholomew after the Ascension of Jesus, but tradition holds that he preached in the East and died a martyr’s death in Armenia.

 

First Reading: (Rev 21:9-14)

The angel spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And in the Spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve an­gels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed; on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

 

Ps 114:10-13, 17-18

R./ Your friends, O Lord, make known the glorious splendor of your reign.

 

Gospel: (Jn 1:45-51)

Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Na­thanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Be­cause I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

 

Reflection:

Today we celebrate the Feast of St Bartholomew, who experienced the great Knowledge and Wisdom of the Lord in his encounter with Jesus and surren­dered his life, to follow the Master, till the end - faithfully! Based on the Biblical nar­rations along with the ancient tradition of the Church, Bartholomew and Nathanael are identified as the same person. The Gospel poses the question of Nathanael to Jesus: “How do You know me?” (Jn 1: 48a). “How do You know me?” - is a query asked by us too - perhaps in various forms - “Do you really know, me, O Lord - my past, my present, my future?” But the Lord, Who answered Nathanael - with the knowledge of his entire life - turns His gaze on each one of us and tells us:” I know you, My Child! I know your past...your present... and your future.” This Lord, Who knows our everything - beyond the borders of time - invites us, to trust in Him more, to be aware of His Providence guiding us always and to give ourselves entirely to Him in love and obedience!