Category: Catholic Faith

“… Bartholomew … has traditionally been identified with Nathanael …. Nathanael’s retort ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ … highlights God’s freedom, which baffles our expectations by causing him to be found in the very place where we least expect him. … Jesus was not exclusively ‘from Nazareth’ but was born in Bethlehem … and came ultimately from Heaven, from the Father who is in Heaven. Nathanael’s reaction suggests another thought to us: in our relationship with Jesus we must not be satisfied with words alone. In his answer, Philip offers Nathanael a meaningful invitation: ‘Come and see!’ …. Our knowledge of Jesus needs above all a first-hand experience: someone else’s testimony is of course important, for normally the whole of our Christian life begins with the proclamation handed down to us by one or more witnesses. However, we ourselves must then be personally involved in a close and deep relationship with Jesus …. the Evangelist tells us that when Jesus sees Nathanael approaching, he exclaims: ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile!’ … [which] provokes the curiosity of Nathanael who answers in amazement: ‘How do you know me?’ …. * * * [There is] a twofold, complementary aspect of Jesus’ identity … recognized both in his special relationship with God the Father, of whom he is the Only-begotten Son, and in his relationship with the People of Israel, of whom he is the declared King … Jesus’ heavenly dimension … [and] His concrete place in history ….”

Click here for “Saint Bartholomew – Audience of Pope Benedict XVI, 4 October 2006” – vatican.va

[featured images are file photos]