Today is the Feast of the Apostle St. Bartholomew.  The Gospel from John tells the story of Bartholomew, then known as Nathanael, meeting Jesus.  We can look at this encounter from the three unique perspectives of Nathanael, Jesus and Phillip.

When Nathanael first hears from Phillip about Jesus of Nazareth he responds with cynicism and a disparaging comment about “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”  Unfortunately there are so many opportunities for us to disregard another based on where they might be from, what degree they have earned, an accent we are not familiar with, the amount of money they have.  Sadly the list goes on and on.  And many times we can fall into the trap that Nathanael does of sharing the comment with another person.  I challenge myself to become aware of the trap of negative attribution.  I pray to stay curious and look to see the whole person.  I also ask for forgiveness for the times my words have wounded another.

Jesus welcomes Nathanael wholeheartedly and says, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.”  Rather than defending Nazareth or trying to prove that Nathanael’s opinion was wrong, Jesus focused on the good in Nathanael and invited him to come along.    Jesus inspires me to pause when I hear something hurtful.  This lesson is particularly poignant in the challenging times in which we are currently living.  I pray to Jesus to see past the hurt with the hope of a more productive encounter.  I believe Jesus is not asking me to accept hate speech at all cost, but rather to have a sense of hope for humanity.

My biggest surprise is in finding Phillip to be the hero of this story.  He is filled with love for and faith in Jesus.  He enthusiastically invites Nathanael to meet Jesus.  Phillip does not fall into the trap of gossip about someone from Nazareth but rather relies on his abiding faith.  Phillip helps me appreciate people in my life who have helped me become a better person and those who have seen gifts in me that I had not yet recognized.   I am particularly grateful for people who have made the effort to introduce me to others who have helped me develop my faith and commitment to service.  I pray to listen for opportunities to be a bridge builder in the generous manner of Phillip by encouraging, supporting, introducing and sharing.

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