On the Feast of St. Bartholomew 

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara

Monday, August 24, 2020

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Bartholomew (usually identified with Nathaniel in John’s Gospel). He was born in the first century at Cana, in Galilee during the width and breath power of the Roman Empire. He was brought to Jesus by the Apostle Philip. Bartholomew is listed in the three synoptic Gospel as one of the Twelve Apostles of the Lord. He was one of those who witnessed the Ascension of Jesus. After the Ascension, Bartholomew traveled to India where he preached the gospel of Jesus and was martyred there. Legend has it that he was unskinned alive and then beheaded. 

Bartholomew is not widely known as Peter, James and John. Even Paul who later became a Christian and called himself an apostle has more recognition than Bartholomew. But check this out! The book of Revelation tells us that on the twelve foundation stones of the heavenly Jerusalem are inscribed the names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb. Although Bartholomew is not widely known like Peter and Paul, his name is written on one of the foundation stones of the heavenly Jerusalem, our true home. Why? Because from the moment Philip brought him to Jesus, something happened to him. What exactly did the Lord say to him? He called him “a true child of Israel” in whom there is no duplicity. Basically he told Bartholomew a little bit about himself. Right there, Bartholomew made the earliest New Testament profession of faith in Christ’s divinity and his mission: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” 

With those words, Bartholomew dangerously declared that Jesus of Nazareth is God, that He and not Caesar is the King of the Jews and his own King as well. Each of those declarations could have caused his own death at the time. But he fearlessly made them, believed it and followed Jesus till the end. From his first encounter with the Son of God, the triumphant Warrior, the King of the universe, Bartholomew never looked back. May we never look back in Jesus name. Amen.