Feat of St. Bartholomew, Apostle
(John 1)
On the Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle, we hear the gospel story about Nathanael. Why? In the lists of apostles in Matthew’s, Mark’s, and Luke’s gospels the name Nathanael doesn’t appear but the name Bartholomew does. This Bartholomew is always paired on the lists with the apostle Philip. In John’s gospel there is no mention of Bartholomew, but there is the story of Nathanael, a friend of Philip. It is logical that Nathanael and Bartholomew is the same person. Also, Bartholomew appears to be a surname since “bar” in Hebrew means “son of.” Some have concluded then that today we celebrate the Feast of Nathanael Bartholomew.
As interesting as the apostle’s name may be, we can commemorate him today for something more. He proclaims Jesus at first hearing as “Son of God and King of Israel.” As Jesus says, he is “without duplicity,” a straight shooter. He is also on the mark as he identifies Jesus correctly. At the end of John’s gospel another disciple, Thomas, will call Jesus “my Lord and my God.” But he will have the advantage of seeing him after the resurrection. Nathanael’s insight comes from his being, as Jesus says, “a true child of Israel,” who has faithfully waited for the Lord.
As Nathanael Bartholomew and all true Israelites waited for the coming of the Messiah, so we and all true Christians wait for him to come back. It might be a frustrating experience if we did not have some reason to believe that he is not far away. In fact, Jesus is present to us in the Eucharist where his Spirit nourishes and guides us. We still want him to reappear in human form to tell us secrets about ourselves, that are hidden from even our eyes, as he does Nathanael in the gospel.
Showing posts with label John 10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John 10. Show all posts
Homilette for Monday, April 30, 2007
Memorial of St. Pius V
(John 10)
Fr. Raymond Brown spent a major part of his life studying the Gospel and Letters of St. John. You will find his two volume commentary on the Gospel on the bookshelves of most preachers. He observes that in all the Johnanine works very almost nothing is said about different functions in the Christian community. Where St. Paul writes of apostles, prophets, and teachers, St. John speaks of only Jesus and his disciples or Jesus, the shepherd, and his sheep. Fr. Brown further points out, however, that a small exception to this rule is found in the final chapter of John’s Gospel. In that passage, that we all know well, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. With each affirmation Jesus tells Peter to care for his sheep.
In John the Evangelist’s mind there is little need for many roles and no need at all for people ruling over one another. What is critical is that everyone loves Jesus and loves one another. For this reason Jesus emphasizes that Peter love him before he assigns him the duty of watching over the sheep.
Today the Church remembers a successor of Peter who tended Jesus’ flock in the perilous time after the major Protestant reformers. St. Pius V faced several daunting challenges: corruption in the Catholic Church, withdrawal of whole nations from the Church’s guidance, the threat of Turkish Muslim invaders seizing control over a sizeable portion of Christian Europe. He met the demands of the office with firmness tempered by prayer. Certainly we can say of him that he loved Christ as was, is, and always will be necessary of successors of Peter.
(John 10)
Fr. Raymond Brown spent a major part of his life studying the Gospel and Letters of St. John. You will find his two volume commentary on the Gospel on the bookshelves of most preachers. He observes that in all the Johnanine works very almost nothing is said about different functions in the Christian community. Where St. Paul writes of apostles, prophets, and teachers, St. John speaks of only Jesus and his disciples or Jesus, the shepherd, and his sheep. Fr. Brown further points out, however, that a small exception to this rule is found in the final chapter of John’s Gospel. In that passage, that we all know well, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. With each affirmation Jesus tells Peter to care for his sheep.
In John the Evangelist’s mind there is little need for many roles and no need at all for people ruling over one another. What is critical is that everyone loves Jesus and loves one another. For this reason Jesus emphasizes that Peter love him before he assigns him the duty of watching over the sheep.
Today the Church remembers a successor of Peter who tended Jesus’ flock in the perilous time after the major Protestant reformers. St. Pius V faced several daunting challenges: corruption in the Catholic Church, withdrawal of whole nations from the Church’s guidance, the threat of Turkish Muslim invaders seizing control over a sizeable portion of Christian Europe. He met the demands of the office with firmness tempered by prayer. Certainly we can say of him that he loved Christ as was, is, and always will be necessary of successors of Peter.
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