Thought for the Week

24 August 2008 – Feast of St Bartholomew

Collect:	Almighty and everlasting God, who gave to your apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach your word: grant that your Church may love that word which he believed and may faithfully preach and receive the same; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Readings:	Isaiah 43, 8 – 13
	Psalm 145, 1 – 7
	Acts 5, 12 – 16
	Luke 22, 24 –30

The American poet Josiah G. Holland was known for his wise sayings, and he wrote:

God give us men! A time like this demands

Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands!

Men whom the lust of office does not kill,

Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy,

Men who possess opions and a will

Men who love honour, men who cannot lie.

Men who love honour, men who cannot lie are men in whom there is no deceit.

When Jesus met Bartholomew he said: “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” [1]

Today is the feast of Saint Bartholomew. In England alone 165 ancient churches are dedicated to him, and a famous hospital in London.

According to some historians Bartholomew was a doctor in Jewish law. He came from Cana in Galilee, longed for the coming of God’s kingdom, and recognised Jesus as the Son of God, the King Israel. Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles called by Jesus; he is named alongside Philip in the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark and Luke, and also in the Acts of the Apostles [2]. He is not included in John’s Gospel account of the calling of the twelve disciples; John names Nathaniel, not Bartholomew, who was introduced to Jesus by Philip [3]. Nathaniel is not named in the other Gospel accounts and historians are pretty much agreed that Nathaniel and Bartholomew were the same man.

Other than naming him, the New Testament does not record any of Bartholomew’s deeds and so we are indebted to the church historian Eusebius who became Bishop of Caesarea in the 4^th century. According to Eusebius, there was a philosopher called Pantaenus who was head of a school of sacred studies in Alexandria around 180 AD. Pantaenus was held in such regard that he was sent to preach the Gospel of Christ in the East and he travelled as far as India where he found that Bartholomew had already preached the Christ to the people in that region. Bartholomew had left behind a Hebrew copy of Matthew’s gospel. Pantaenus also learned that Bartholomew had been martyred, flayed alive at Albanopolis in Armenia. He became the patron saint of surgeons, butchers, tanners and bookbinders. The historians also tell us that Bartholomew’s relics were eventually taken to Rome and deposited in the church dedicated to him on the Tiber. One of his arms was given as a gift to Edward the Confessor who presented it to the cathedral church of Canterbury.

We may or may not believe everything the historians tell us about Bartholomew, but what we do know should be sufficient for us to take him as a serious role model for our own life.

As one of the twelve disciples Bartholomew took Jesus for his role model. Over a period of three years he watched Jesus heal the sick and perform miracles, he was taught by Jesus and listened to Jesus preaching in parables. During this time the disciples were sent out in pairs to preach the Good News to others - Bartholomew presumably went with his friend Philip. Bartholomew was with the other disciples at the Last Supper, in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was betrayed, at his crucifixion, and he was with several of the apostles when Jesus appeared by the Sea of Tiberias after his resurrection [4].

Although Bartholomew is not mentioned by name in any of today’s readings he clearly was amongst the twelve disciples who were disputing who should be the greatest. Just as modern politicians wrangle for positions of power – and there’s plenty of evidence of that at the moment – so it was with the disciples. Peter thought he should be Prime Minister, for he was the best speaker. Judas would certainly be Chancellor of the Exchequer – he held the common purse. John was Christ’s favourite – surely he would be President. Andrew had been called first – surely that made him the leader. And so they bickered.

Then Jesus taught his followers - that’s us too - that those who wish to be the greatest have first to become the least. It’s not an easy lesson, but we can be reassured that saints are human too! Saints suffer the same trials and temptations today as they did 2,000 years ago.

Bartholomew may also have wanted to be the greatest among the disciples but Jesus did not find any deceit in him; his was an example of good conduct in public service and personal relationships.

Another school year approaches, and for many of us this marks a fresh start to our work or our studies. In the coming year who will be your role model?

Amen.

[1] John 1.47

[2] Matthew 10.1-15; Mark 3.16-19; Luke 6.13-16; Acts 1.13

[3] John 1.40-51

[4] John 21.2

Josiah G. Holland [1819-1881] born in Massachusetts, USA

Revd June Hutchinson: Assistant Curate, Anglican Chaplaincy of Midi-Pyrénées & Aude

To return to main Thought for the Week page, click X at top right to close this window.