Dear Friends in Christ,

For many of us, this weekend marks the conclusion of the summer break and the beginning of another academic year. Perhaps we are dreading the thought of returning to our routines, or we feel unprepared for the frantic schedules we will have to juggle. While it can be easy for us to become discouraged by the uncertainty that lies ahead, we are reminded that we are not alone in our struggle to find peace and answers to our hearts. Our spiritual lives are often filled with this uncertainty, but we are confident in God’s providence in what lies ahead, no matter the challenges we may face.

In this letter, I wish to focus our attention on the life of a Saint who also faced a life of uncertainty when following Jesus as one of his Apostles. This week, we will be celebrating the Feast of St. Bartholomew, also known as “Nathaniel” in the Gospel of John, on Monday August 24th. Like us, Bartholomew faced feelings of uncertainty when he was called to be a close follower of Jesus. However, Jesus was able to transform his uncertainty into a deep faith in God’s providence that allowed Bartholomew to give his life for the sake of the Gospel in a memorable, and perhaps frightening martyrdom.

In the Gospel of John, we first encounter Bartholomew/Nathaniel in John 1:43-51 when our very own Patron Saint, St. Philip, encounters him under the fig tree. Philip is energized by his own encounter with Jesus, and he wishes for Bartholomew to also experience this electrifying teacher who was pointed out by John the Baptist. When Bartholomew is skeptical of Philip because of Jesus’s origin, (“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”), Philip encourages him to have faith by saying our Parish motto, “Come and see.”

When Bartholomew encounters Jesus for the first time, Jesus takes his uncertainty and turns it into a moment of profound grace. Jesus reveals his knowledge of Bartholomew even while he was under the fig tree, to which Bartholomew replies, “Rabbai, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel.” (Jn. 1:49) What a remarkable act of faith! Jesus does not rebuke Bartholomew for his uncertainty of the future, but instead promises that he will see, “angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (Jn. 1:51). In this way, Bartholomew’s uncertainty of the future is transformed into a remarkable act of faith.



What is also remarkable about the life of Bartholomew is the way in which he was martyred. He ministered to the Church in India for a time, and was martyred by being flayed alive between 69-71 AD. He is the patron saint of butchers, tanners, and tailors. May he intercede for us to always have faith in Jesus when we experience uncertainty.

May Christ’s peace be with you,

Father Briggs