Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 24th August

Message from Fr Paul for Wednesday, 24th August 2022

 Yesterday, my old university friend, Archbishop Kevin MacDonald and I met up with some other friends across the border in Wales for lunch and then went on to visit St Bilo’s church at Llanfilo, a 12th century church with an intact and most beautiful rood screen. It’s easy to find and well worth visiting. I recommend it and attach a few photographs.

 Today we celebrate the feast of the apostle, St Bartholomew, the disciple we know as Nathanael in John’s Gospel, (Jn 1: 45-51). In medieval England he was one of the most popular saints and there are many churches dedicated to him. One of my favourites lies not far from Belmont, at Vowchurch, a beautiful church in a lovely position of the banks of the river Dore in the Golden Valley. Do make a visit: you will not be disappointed, and the best jams, marmalades, jellies and chutneys in England are available for purchase in the porch. Alternatively, there’s also the humble little church at Thruxton, which I love.

 Let’s read our Gospel passage, which recounts the call of Nathanael.

“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, the one about whom the prophets wrote: he is Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.’ ‘From Nazareth?’ said Nathanael ‘Can anything good come from that place?’ ‘Come and see’ replied Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming, he said of him, ‘There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.’ ‘How do you know me?’ said Nathanael. ‘Before Philip came to call you,’ said Jesus ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ Nathanael answered, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.’ Jesus replied, ‘You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.’ And then he added ‘I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.’” What is so refreshing about John’s accounts of the calling of the first disciples is the participation of the disciples themselves in the process. Here it is Philip who goes out searching for Nathanael to let him know that he and the others have found the Messiah, the one promised by the Law and the Prophets, and that he is Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Nathanael is unconvinced. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” he comments, sarcastically. Philip replies with that key phrase, “Come and see.” Jesus himself had used the phrase earlier on when Simon Peter approached him out of curiosity. “Where do you live?” he asked. “Come and see,” Jesus replied. And this is what Jesus says to you and me today whenever we ask him a question. “Lord, what’s going to happen? How will it be? Lord, who are you?” “Come and see.” Jesus invites us to open our eyes and see him as Lord, Master, Saviour and Friend.

 In early Christian tradition, St Bartholomew was believed to have been martyred by being flayed alive. He is thought to have preached the Gospel in India, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The manner of his death eventually led to his popularity in works of art and literature. He became the patron saint of many counties, towns, cities and parishes, as also of butchers, tanners, bookbinders, leather workers, shoe makers, dermatology and skin diseases. Many hospitals were placed under his protection, such as the famous London hospital. Let us pray today that, following his example, people will think twice should they reject Jesus the first time they hear about him, that like Bartholomew, they will come and see and so come to know and love him as our Saviour and our Lord.