Catholic News Agency, CO
Aug 24 2008

Saint of the day: ST. BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2008

Saint Bartholomew is one of the Twelve Apostles, mentioned sixth in
the three Gospel lists (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14), and
seventh in the list of Acts (1:13). The name (Bartholomaios) means
"son of Talmai" which was an ancient Hebrew name.

Besides being listed as an Apostle, he is not otherwise mentioned in
the New Testament. At least not under the name Bartholomew: many
ancient writers, and Catholic tradition have identified Bartholomew as
Nathaniel in the Gospel of John (John 1:45-51, and 21:2).

The Gospel passage read at Mass on the feast of Saint Bartholomew is
precisely this passage from John (1:45-51) where Nathaniel is
introduced to Jesus by his friend Phillip, and Jesus says of him "Here
is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him (1:47)."

We are presented with the Apostle’s character in this brief and
beautiful dialogue with the Lord Jesus. He is a good Jew, honest and
innocent, a just man, who devotes much time to quiet reflection and
prayer – "under the fig tree (1:48)" – and has been awaiting the
Messiah, the Holy One of God.

At Jesus’ mention that "Before Philip called you, when you were under
the fig tree, I saw you (1:48)," Nathaniel responded "Rabbi, you are
the Son of God! You are the King of Israel (1:49)!"

Being "a true child of Israel," Nathaniel was a man well-read in the
Scriptures and knew what they said of the Messiah and where he would
come from. This is why he is skeptical of Phillip’s claim that Jesus
is the Messiah, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth (1:46)?"

But Nathaniel was lacking "duplicity" – that is, his heart was
undivided, his intentions pure – his openness to reality was always
ready to recognize and surrender to the truth when he encountered
it. He remained open to his friend Phillip’s invitation to "Come and
see (1:46)."

In encountering Jesus and hearing His words, he found himself face to
face with the Truth Himself, and, like John the Baptist’s leap in his
mother’s womb at the Lord’s presence, Nathaniel’s words lept out of
his own heart in a clear and simple confession of faith, "Rabbi, you
are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"

Jesus, in Matthew 5:8, says, "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they
shall see God." In Nathaniel we have an example of the pure man who
sees – recognizes – God when confronted with Him, and on seeing Him
believes in Him, and upon believing in Him follows Him.

Nothing is known for sure about the life of Nathaniel/Bartholomew
after the Ascension of Jesus. But tradition has it that he preached in
the East and died a martyr’s death in Armenia, being flayed alive for
having won converts to the Lord Jesus.

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