The Church celebrates the Feast of Bartholomew the Apostle today. Very little is known about the life of this apostle. The canonical gospels focus on only a handful of apostles. Even Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, received only a few verses. What can we expect to find about the life of the apostle whose name came sixth or seventh in the name lists? His name does not appear in the gospel of John but many scholars believe that the Nathanael mentioned in the gospel of John was Bartholomew.
The gospel of John gives us a different sequence in which Jesus called his disciples. First of all, two disciples of John the Baptist followed Jesus after the Baptist bore witness that Jesus was the Lamb of God which took away the sins of the world (John 1:37). One of them was Andrew who was very excited because they had found the Messiah. Andrew told his brother Simon and brought him to Jesus. Now Jesus had three disciples, Andrew, Simon and an anonymous disciple who was most probably John.
Jesus turned to Galilee and found Philip. He called Philip to follow him. Notice that according to the gospel of John, the first three came to Jesus on their own initiative but Philip was the first to be called, to be summoned by Jesus. John's account is different from that found in the Synoptic gospels because gospels were products of particular communities of believers. They arose from different communities with different traditions.
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." (John 1:43)
Philip responded positively the call of Jesus. He followed Jesus and later, Philip called his friend Nathanael and told him that they (Philip and the disciples whom Jesus had called earlier) had found the Messiah.
Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."(John 1:45)
Andrew did it. So did Philip. They had found something good. They shared this good thing with their friends and relatives.
The community from which the gospel of Mark arose probably stressed the promptness of renunciation of worldly possessions. The community of John probably stressed the importance of sharing and spreading the good news of salvation. That explains why they offer different accounts of the call of the apostles.
Jesus turned to Galilee and found Philip. He called Philip to follow him. Notice that according to the gospel of John, the first three came to Jesus on their own initiative but Philip was the first to be called, to be summoned by Jesus. John's account is different from that found in the Synoptic gospels because gospels were products of particular communities of believers. They arose from different communities with different traditions.
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." (John 1:43)
Philip responded positively the call of Jesus. He followed Jesus and later, Philip called his friend Nathanael and told him that they (Philip and the disciples whom Jesus had called earlier) had found the Messiah.
Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."(John 1:45)
Andrew did it. So did Philip. They had found something good. They shared this good thing with their friends and relatives.
The community from which the gospel of Mark arose probably stressed the promptness of renunciation of worldly possessions. The community of John probably stressed the importance of sharing and spreading the good news of salvation. That explains why they offer different accounts of the call of the apostles.
Galilee was a northern province close to the Gentiles. People in the south did not speak highly of the Galileans. The Galilean way of life was probably too much "contaminated" by Greek influences. Therefore, it was only nature for Nathanael not to expect the Messiah to come from Nazareth of Galilee.
Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." (John 1:47)
Philip did not argue with him because actions speak louder than words. Philip's answer was pragmatic: see for yourself.
Our mistake is that we care too much about our performance, about the outcome. We know we need to let go, let Mother Nature take her course and let God handle the situation. But we feel uncomfortable if we have not put in "enough" efforts. We are nervous if not enough people take part in the evangelization activities we organize, too few students join the functions organized by the Catholic Society. Rather, we should learn from Philip. Invite your friends to come and see for themselves. God will take care of the rest.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" (John 1:47-49)
We will never know what Nathanael was doing under the fig tree. Whatever he did, Jesus saw it. Jesus is truly God. Christians, shouldn't you be more careful with what you do in your solitude? Advice from Confucius 「是故君子戒慎乎其所不睹，恐懼乎其所不聞。莫見乎隱，莫顯乎微，故君子慎其獨也」【中庸‧第一章】
Therefore, a Gentleman is cautious of what he does not see, fearful of what he does not hear. There is nothing more conspicuous than the hidden, more obvious than the microscopic. Thus, a Gentleman is very careful in solitude (The Middle Way, chapter one).
Does not the Synoptic gospels say similar things?
Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops(Luke 12:2-3)
Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." (John 1:47)
Philip did not argue with him because actions speak louder than words. Philip's answer was pragmatic: see for yourself.
Our mistake is that we care too much about our performance, about the outcome. We know we need to let go, let Mother Nature take her course and let God handle the situation. But we feel uncomfortable if we have not put in "enough" efforts. We are nervous if not enough people take part in the evangelization activities we organize, too few students join the functions organized by the Catholic Society. Rather, we should learn from Philip. Invite your friends to come and see for themselves. God will take care of the rest.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" (John 1:47-49)
We will never know what Nathanael was doing under the fig tree. Whatever he did, Jesus saw it. Jesus is truly God. Christians, shouldn't you be more careful with what you do in your solitude? Advice from Confucius 「是故君子戒慎乎其所不睹，恐懼乎其所不聞。莫見乎隱，莫顯乎微，故君子慎其獨也」【中庸‧第一章】
Therefore, a Gentleman is cautious of what he does not see, fearful of what he does not hear. There is nothing more conspicuous than the hidden, more obvious than the microscopic. Thus, a Gentleman is very careful in solitude (The Middle Way, chapter one).
Does not the Synoptic gospels say similar things?
Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops(Luke 12:2-3)
Dear Lord, teach us to behave properly even in our solitude. You are all-knowing. You know the secrets which have been repressed so deeply in our hearts that even we do not know their existence ourselves. My Lord, help me clean up my secret chambers. Amen.
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