Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle
We’ve all see those “pay-for-view” telescopes around major tourist sites. Put in the right coin, and you can scan the distant object of interest or even zoom in on some unsuspecting pedestrian who is simply walking by. The point is that we often need help to see something truly important whether it is an object or an important idea. We may not have the right equipment available at the moment but fortunately, there may be someone at hand who can point it out to us. Remember that line from the ever-popular Christmas song: “Do you see what I see?”
Today’s first reading from the Book of Revelations begins with an angel telling the Apostle John to take a good look in a poetic way at the breathtaking beauty of the Church, which is protected and strengthened in a time of great turmoil. This is appropriate not only for this feast of the Apostle St. Bartholomew but also for the struggling infant Church at the time as well as the Church today.
Sometimes we need someone to point out the truth of the situation. We see this in today’s Gospel text in which Phillip helps Nathanael (also called Bartholomew) find the Lord Jesus. Left to his own prejudices after hearing that Jesus was someone from Nazareth, Nathanael could easily have missed the most important opportunity of his life.
Today is a good day to marvel at the providential gift someone has given us. Because of that person and the gift of grace, we were able to abandon our negative or even hostile thoughts to move to the source of new understanding. This is still the call of the apostle today. At the right moment, can we share our vision of faith?
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Articles for Lent, Daily Reflections, Lenten Resources