St Bartholomew
Today is the feast day for St Bartholomew. We do not know much about him, and what we do know is somewhat speculative. His name is from the Greek bar tolmai meaning “son of Tolmai”. He is listed four different times in the New Testament. In the lists of the Apostles, Bartholomew follows Philip. It is thought that Bartholomew may then be Nathanael whom Philip brought to Jesus. We believe Bartholomew brought the gospel to India. Then he came to Armenia where he was martyred by being flayed alive. John was the only Apostle to die a natural death. The others were martyred through rather gruesome deaths.
St Bartholomew was granted a great vision. The last line of today’s gospel is:
And [Jesus] said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Jesus looked into the heart of Bartholomew and recognized a prayerful man. One who spent time with scriptures and prayer. Bartholomew was given the vision of the New Jerusalem as explained in the first reading from Revelation. When Jesus looks within your heart who does He see? When you look within your heart who do you see? I pray you said Jesus. He comes into our hearts to dwell with us. The only way we can recognize Jesus is by reading His Teachings from Scripture.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen