August 24, 2018

Bartholomew

August 24, 2018:  St. Bartholomew, Apostle

See a dozen connections with today?
Legend below
Listen

For Psalm 145
Read
  • Rv 21:9b-14  To show me the Lamb's bride, the angel took me, showed me radiant Jerusalem with its wall, 12 angel-staffed gates and 12 Apostle-inscribed courses of stones.
  • Ps 145:10-13, 17-18  "Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom."  Let your works thank you and your faithful bless you.  Your dominion is for all ages.  You are just, holy, and near.
  • Jn 1:45-51  Jesus / Nathanael [Bartholomew]:  “Here's a true child of Israel, duplicity-free.” / “How do you know me?” / “I saw you under the fig tree.” / “You're Son of God, King of Israel.” / “You believe because I told you I saw you under the tree?  You'll see greater things:  heaven opened, angels ascending/descending.”
Reflect
  • Creighton:  Jesus had invited two of John the Baptist's disciples to “Come and see.”  Now one of them tells Nathanael (Bartholomew) to check things out.  Jesus says a good word about Nate, who takes Jesus' knowledge as a sign and believes; then we don't hear of him till an account of the Resurrection.  Faith needs doubt as a setting for belief. Belief plays out in doing and receiving, but never convincing.  We want certainty, but data, logic, and experience don't always convince us.  Believing is a way of being seen by God, called by Jesus, and accepted....
    St. John and St. Bartholomew/ Dossi
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Know body":  Nathanael's response is revealing response.  You may typically ask, "How do you know this about me?" but he asked: "How do you know me?"  Nathanael had a personal encounter with Christ and realized Jesus knew and loved him and was the Son of God.  Jesus' comment is also revealing, that Nathanael would see greater things.  He'd see the glory of heaven and the Church and be chosen as an apostle....  May we all encounter Jesus personally and accept him in his glory as our Lord and Savior.
  • Passionist:  "No deceit":  When Jesus complemented Nathanael for being without 'deceit' (Gk. dolos = lure, snare), he was saying he didn't bait people.  We live in a world of fake news, which is usually aimed at destroying a person.  Jesus disdained lying.  There's power in truth.  “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal faithfully are his delight.”  A follower of Christ must always be truthful because Jesus is the truth!  Jesus calls Nathaniel 'true' (Gk. ä-lā’-thā-ä, 'un-hide').  Truth is the opposite of deceit.  Jesus "came to testify to the truth.  Everyone of the truth hears my voice.”
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Come and see":  Philip was eager to tell Nathanael (Bartholomew) about his decision to be Jesus' disciple; he tried to convince him Jesus was the Messiah.  Nathanael was skeptical because he didn't think the Messiah could come from Nazareth, a town he disliked and whose residents he considered unworthy of religious toleration.  Aren't we all a bit like that, skeptical when someone tries to convince us of the truth till we can comprehend it for ourselves?  Rather than argue, Philip just invited him to see for himself.  Arguments rarely win people over, but an encounter with Christ can.  Jesus opened Nathanael's heart, and he recognized Him as the Messiah.  When Jesus says "you'll see heaven opened, and God's angels ascending and descending...," he's referring to Jacob's dream.  Jesus promises Nathanael He will be the ladder that unites earth with heaven, the fulfillment of the promise to Jacob.  Jesus is the true stairway to heaven; in his incarnation we see heaven and earth united, God dwelling with us and bringing us into his heavenly kingdom...
Today's saints, from Universalis
  • Bartholomew, apostle, patron of the sick.  Went to India?  Martyred in Armenia?
Dress legend
  • 'Lamb' tie bar:  "I'll show you the bride of the Lamb" (1st reading)
  • 'Alps' pin:  "He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain" (1st reading)
  • 'Jeweled piano' pin:  "Jerusalem's radiance was like that of a precious stone" (1st reading)
  • 'Angel' pin:  "The angel spoke to me"; angels were stationed at 12 gates (1st reading); "You'll see God's angels ascending and descending..." (gospel)
  • 'Crowns' tie:  "Your friends make your Kingdom's splendor known" (psalm); "You are the King of Israel" (gospel)
  • 'Eyeball' pin:  "Come and see" (gospel)
    •
  • 'Phone' tie bar:  The Lord is near to all who 'call' on him in truth (psalm); "before Philip 'called' you..." (gospel)
  • 'Tree' pin:  "...I saw you under the fig tree" (gospel)
  • Red shirt, tie, suspenders:  St. Bartholomew feast
Special greetings to and prayers for the community at
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