The True Child of Israel!

Saturday, August 24, 2024

Feast of Bartholomew, Apostle

Rv 21:9-14; Jn 1: 45-51

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Bartholomew, who is also known as Nathanael, as referred to in today’s Gospel.

We are intrigued by Jesus’ description of Nathanael upon seeing him.  Jesus praises Nathanael as ‘The true child of Israel, in whom there is no duplicity.’

As Jesus himself lauds Nathanael, he is found to be honest and straightforward in two ways. 

1.Nathanael asks Philip, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ He was not ridiculing Jesus. Nathanael, the man well-versed in the Scriptures, knew what was said about the Messiah and where he would come from. Hence, he is skeptical of Philip’s claim that Jesus is the Messiah. 

2. If Nathanael was candid about anything good coming out of Nazareth, he showed no hesitation in accepting the truth at its revelation. That is why he was able to proclaim the Lordship of Jesus, saying, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.’ 

Through his proclamation of Jesus’ divinity, Nathanael shows himself open to embracing the truth, just as he shows openness to Philip’s invitation to experience Christ. 

The one who was skeptical of Nazareth was not skeptical about the Nazarene as he witnessed him. 

There are three important lessons we can learn from St. Bartholomew.

Openness to Truth: Being well-versed in the Scriptures, Nathanael devoted much time to quiet reflection and prayer, awaiting the Messiah as implied by the description ‘under the fig tree.’ Though he doubted Jesus based on his knowledge, his openness led to a humble acceptance of Christ. 

Persisting in Faith: Nathanael’s life offers the lesson that faith is not the absence of doubts. It is about persisting in their midst. The seeker he was, he bowed down to the truth at its revelation. He had no duplicity in him when he doubted Jesus the Nazarene. He had no duplicity in him when he proclaimed Jesus’ divinity. 

Experiencing Christ: Nathanael shows a willing readiness to experience Christ when the invitation to ‘come and see’ comes from Philip. Faith is not being stuck in the world of abstract ideas; it is about volunteering to experience Christ in our daily lives. An authentic experience of Christ is life-transforming, just as it was for Nathanael. 

This is why the true child of Israel could recognize the true King of Israel!

Inspired by Nathanael, let us pray for the grace to grow into the true children of God!

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar