Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:
Today, August 24, is when the Christian Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle. This post is devoted to one of the many Feast Days that the historic Christian Church observed that are generally neglected today. I pray that you find this message beneficial in your devotions this or another day.
Saint Bartholomew (or Nathanael, as he is called in Saint John’s Gospel) was one of the first of Jesus’ twelve disciples. His home was in the town of Cana, in Galilee (John 21:2), where Jesus performed His first miracle. He was invited to “come and see” by Philip, who told him that they had found the Messiah in the person of Jesus of Nazareth (John 1:45-46). Bartholomew’s initial hesitation to believe, because of Jesus’ Nazareth background, was quickly replaced by 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. 1
The verse or theme for this feast is “Alleluia. Let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. But I am among you as the one who serves. Alleluia.” It is from Luke 22:26b, 27d.
Old Testament Proverbs 3:1-8
Psalm Psalm 121 (antiphon v. 8)
Epistle 2 Corinthians 4:7-10
Gospel John 1:43-51 or Luke 22:24-30
The hymn appointed for this day is “God Has Spoken by His Prophets” as found on page 583 in the Lutheran Service Book. You may listen to the hymn at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FfeNbS9UjI
Collect of the Day:
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.
Pastor Jim Tuell
1 Adapted from Treasury of Daily Prayer, Scot A Kinnaman, General Editor, Concordia Publishing House, Saint Louis, MO., 2008, 654.
