Today we commemorate the faith, life, and death of St Bartholomew.

St Bartholomew (or Nathaniel, as he is called in St John’s Gospel) was once of the first of Jesus’ twelve disciples. His home was in the won of Cana in Galilee (John 21:2), where Jesus performed His first miracle. He was invited to become on of the Twelve by Philip, who told him that they had found the Messiah in the person of Jesus of Nazareth (John 1:45). Bartholomew’s initial hesitation to believe, because of the Jesus’ Nazareth background, was quickly replaced with a clear, unequivocal declaration of faith, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49). He was present with the other disciples (John 21:1-13) when they were privileged to see and converse and eat with their risen Lord and Savior. According to some early church fathers, Bartholomew brought the Gospel to Armenia, where he was martyred by being flayed alive.

Let us pray: Almighty God, Your Son, Jesus Christ, chose Bartholomew to be an apostle to preach the blessed Gospel. Grant that Your Church may love what he believed and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.