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Good morning. Today is the Feast of St Bartholomew; not the best known of the Disciples, and certainly not someone who gets a high profile in the Bible.  When Bartholomew was first told about Jesus, he was dismissive, needing  to be convinced that Jesus could be the one to fulfil the prophecies and promises of old; and that’s what makes me warm to Bartholomew, because he was straight forward, honest and open.  Yes, he was ready to follow Jesus… but not before serious questions had been addressed and his inner sceptic convinced.  And I wonder if Jesus saw just that quality in him, that once he was on side, he had the potential to do great things in God’s name.

When we piece together the jigsaw of early Christian history, we find that Bartholomew was born in Cana in Galilee, travelling from Jerusalem as far as India after the Resurrection, where he is believed to have left a copy of St Matthew’s Gospel; while cultural and archaeological evidence tells us that he visited North Africa and brought Christianity to Armenia and parts of modern day Turkey, finally being put to death because of his resolute teaching and preaching.  

I’m encouraged that Jesus saw through Bartholomew’s initial suspicion and reluctance, and recognised that he was someone of integrity and resilience; and these deeper qualities came to the fore, not only during Bartholomew’s lifetime, but in his lasting legacy through the centuries.

I think that should encourage us to look for the deeper detail and potential, in ourselves and in one another.  Only then can we start to wonder what we might do to make a mark in the world today that makes a real difference.

Lord, you seek in each of us the potential to do great things.  Give us also the wisdom and discernment to see that potential in others… so that we might use this day to make your love, peace, patience, kindness and gentleness known to the world.  Amen.