The feast of St Bartholomew

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Today we celebrate the feast of the apostle St Bartholomew. In the lists of the apostles in Matthew, Mark and Luke and also in Acts, Bartholomew is named as one of the twelve but in John's gospel (1:45-51) that we hear today Nathanael is mentioned although he does not appear in the other lists. Most scholars consider that Nathanael is the same person as Bartholomew. John tells us that Philip found Nathahael and told him that he had found Jesus. But that was not quite true as John tells us in verse 43 that it was Jesus who decided to go to Galilee where he met Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Philip was so excited that he went to call Nathanael telling him that the long expected one was Jesus of Nazareth. Nazareth had never even been mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures and Nathanael thought that it was so insignificant that he scoffed saying, ''What good can come from Nazareth?" But Philip wisely did not argue with him but said, ''Come and see.''

 

Like Philip and Nathanael we too have been called to follow Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and our life comes from him. So how can we find him more in our life? John himself gives us the answer when he tells us in Chapter 15 that he is the true vine and we are the branches, 'Stay joined to me and I will stay joined to you.'' Then he tells us that the way to remain united with him is to make his teachings become part of us. He is the Word and John tells us that his words were written, ''So that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that through believing you may have life in his name.'' (John 20:31)