August 24, 2022

St. Bartholomew

Jn 1: 45-51

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ 

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ 

Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Be Without Duplicity

In today’s Gospel we hear of the call of Nathanael, otherwise known as Bartholomew. Jesus describes Nathanael: “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” What a testament to Nathanael’s character, to have no duplicity in him, to be a man of pure intentions and faithfulness.

In the first reading we hear about the New Jerusalem in the book of Revelation, and the twelve stones representing the twelve apostles. Upon these stones rests the Divine city. Nathanael’s stone is one of being without guile and without duplicity. It is a stone of a sure foundation for the Christian life.

Let us pray today for the grace to become more and more like Nathanael in our Christian lives, to be men and women without duplicity before God and man. 

—Fr. Jonathon Polce, SJ, was ordained a priest this summer and is beginning an assignment at Jesuit High School New Orleans. He is a member of the Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province. 

Prayer 

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

—Psalm 145:5