Saint Bartholomew, Apostle – Feast
Gospel – John 1:45-51
Today we are celebrating the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is often identified with Nathanael, a disciple mentioned in the Gospel of John. This identification is supported by the consistent pairing of Bartholomew with Philip in the Synoptic Gospels’ lists of apostles, and Nathanael’s close association with Philip in the Gospel of John. Nathanael is the disciple to whom Jesus gave promises. “You will see greater things than that.’ And then he added ‘I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.” The heaven being laid open with the Ascension of Jesus to heaven. The heaven is open to us. It’s open to each one of us. The Angels of God are continuously ascending and descending. The graces are continuously pouring from heaven and our prayers are continuously taken to heaven by the angels. How beautiful is the Christian life! A life based on faith in the heaven open, in the graces pouring down, and in the prayers taken up to heaven. This is the promise given to Nathanael by Jesus. We are the People of God who live in this promise. Let’s reflect: Am I aware that I must live in the hope of the promise given by Jesus to Nathanael?
Don Giorgio