Gospel in Art: Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

Saint Bartholomew, by Pierre Le Gros the Younger, Sculpted 1703-1712, © Christian Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 24 August 2024
John 1:45-51

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.'

Reflection on the sculpture

In today's Gospel reading, we learn about Philip's eagerness to share the news with his friend Nathaniel (also known as Bartholomew in Matthew 10:3 and Luke 6:14) that he had decided to follow Jesus and become his disciple. Philip passionately tried to convince Nathaniel that Jesus was indeed the Messiah prophesied by Moses and the prophets. Initially, Nathaniel was dismissive and skeptical, questioning, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" His skepticism stemmed from the perception that Nazareth, being a crossroads of many trade routes and a melting pot of different cultures and races, would not be orthodox enough to produce the true Messiah. This reflects a common tendency we all share: skepticism, especially when it comes to matters of faith and religion.

Instead of arguing, Philip simply invited Nathaniel to meet Jesus for himself, saying, "Come and see." This approach teaches us that sometimes, rather than engaging in debates, a personal encounter with Christ can be more transformative and persuasive.

Today, we celebrate Saint Bartholomew (Nathaniel). I share with you an image of a sculpture depicting the saint holding his own flayed skin. According to various accounts, Bartholomew was arrested in Armenia and subjected to the brutal punishment of having his skin removed while still alive. This gruesome method of martyrdom aimed to inflict maximum suffering. After enduring this horrific torture, he was finally beheaded, completing his martyrdom. His brutal death highlights his unwavering dedication to spreading Christianity. This sculpture is one of twelve representing the Apostles at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, each placed in a separate niche designed by Francesco Borromini in the second half of the 17th century. The artist, Pierre Le Gros the Younger, created this imposing sculpture of Bartholomew, illustrating the disciple's martyrdom.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-1-45-51-2024/