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You Are the Son of God!
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about
whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of
Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything
good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” John
1:45–46
The name “Bartholomew” is listed in the Synoptic Gospels as one of
Jesus’ chosen Twelve Apostles. His name means, “son of
Tolmai.”
In John’s Gospel, he is traditionally identified as Nathanael. It’s
possible that his full name was Nathanael, son of Tolmai. In John’s
Gospel, Andrew and John—two fishermen from Capernaum—were the first
to be called by Jesus. Andrew then told his friend Philip, who
subsequently told Nathanael, “We have found the one about whom
Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph,
from Nazareth.”
Nathanael’s immediate response was one of doubt: “Can anything good
come from Nazareth?” This reflected the fact that Nazareth was a
small and seemingly insignificant town at that time; moreover, the
Messiah was expected to come from Bethlehem, the City of David.
Neither Philip nor Nathanael knew Jesus had actually been born in
Bethlehem. Yet Philip’s response opened the door to a dramatic
transformation in Nathanael’s life: “Come and see.”
Because Nathanael was open, he did go to see Jesus. When Jesus saw
him approaching, He said, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is
no duplicity in him.” Jesus had seen Nathanael sitting under a fig
tree earlier, and upon revealing this, Nathanael responded in a way
that must have surprised even himself: “Rabbi, you are the Son of
God; you are the King of Israel.”
According to ancient tradition, after Pentecost, Nathanael
evangelized in regions that included India, Armenia, and
Mesopotamia, ultimately giving his life as a martyr, possibly by
being flayed alive. What a change from his initial skepticism to
his final act of witness! Little did Nathanael realize that the
humble carpenter from Nazareth would change not only his life, but
the entire world.
As we honor Saint Bartholomew today, ponder the one quality Jesus
attributed to him: “There is no duplicity in him.” To be without
duplicity is to be sincere, honest, and transparent before God and
others. It is to possess an integrity of heart that seeks the truth
and responds wholeheartedly when that truth is revealed.
Bartholomew’s journey from skepticism to a bold profession of faith
reveals the transformation that takes place in a soul open to
grace. His life teaches us that God can use even our hesitation to
draw us deeper into faith if we are only willing to “come and
see.”
In what ways do you hesitate in your response to God? Today, we do
not meet Jesus for the first time, as did Bartholomew. We know Him
through prayer, through the witness of the saints, and especially
through the Sacred Scriptures. There are many profound and
life-altering truths contained in God’s Word. We are called to
approach these truths as disciples ready to be transformed. Like
Nathanael, we may initially struggle with doubt, indifference, or
preconceived notions, but the invitation stands: “Come and see.”
Jesus continues to reveal Himself to us in countless ways, if we
are only open. If we approach Him with sincerity and without
duplicity, He will speak to our hearts, reveal our true selves to
us, and call us into deeper communion with Him.
Reflect today on the witness of Saint Bartholomew’s life. See in
him any hesitation you may have about wholeheartedly following
Christ. With him, come and see our Lord. Seek Him in prayer and in
His Word. Let Him speak to your heart. Approach Him without
duplicity. Be open, attentive, sincere, and honest. And when He
speaks, do not hesitate to follow Him, declaring with Saint
Bartholomew: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of
Israel.”
My humble Lord, You did not present Yourself to Nathanael as a
powerful king or a mighty military leader, but as a humble resident
of Nazareth. Yet upon meeting You with an open heart, Nathanael
made a life-changing profession of faith in You. Like Saint
Bartholomew, may I always come to You with an open and sincere
heart. And when You come to me, grant me the grace to cry out with
conviction and love, “You are the Son of God!” Jesus, I trust in
You.
Image: St. Bartolomew the apostle in the church, by Nicola
Colonna
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