for August 24
Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

I’ve always loved American music. I recall the first time I had the opportunity to drive through Tennessee—the birthplace and center of great American musical traditions. When I saw the highway signs for Nashville and Memphis I was greatly tempted to delay my planned arrival elsewhere and head straight to Memphis to hear some good Blues. I also fought the urge to drive even further on straight to the Mississippi Delta region to take in with my own eyes and ears the land of Robert Johnson and other musical greats who transformed how many around the world experience sound. Along this drive and thinking of Memphis I remembered the 1980s song by Paul Simon, “Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee. I’m going to Graceland. We will both be received in Graceland” (Paul Simon). The storied Graceland, is a real and mythical place of hope that we long to see, a place of life-giving discovery, promise, and the search for a brighter future.  Today’s scripture readings consider similar themes and more.

The reading from Revelation presents a radiant vision of angels, sounds from mountain top heavens, and predictions of a final judgment. The angel speaks, “Come here, I will show you…” The angel reveals the splendor of God in a vision. The Book of Revelation does not present a narrative of direct action in story form but often draws on visions, imagination, and prophesies about the future. Music can sometimes do this for us too. But here Revelation is more akin to creative improvisation. Today’s passage and the references to the Twelve Tribes of Israel and the Twelve Apostles point the reader to consider a future transcendent reality where God and God’s people live together in closeness and union.

The story in John’s Gospel moves in a similar direction. Philip brings Nathanael (who is traditionally identified with the Apostle Bartholomew—the saint remembered by the Church today) to Jesus. Philip invites him to “come and see” Jesus. Interestingly, here Philip repeats an earlier statement of Jesus in these early passages of John’s Gospel as he calls the disciples. Nathanael does not alone (i.e. by himself) come to faith in Jesus but we are told that Jesus saw him first. When Nathanael does finally see Jesus, he proceeds to make his great confession of faith and states his belief in him. And Jesus promises that he will see even more. Both Jesus and Philip lead Nathanael to grace and to experience beyond himself into God’s very own love and embrace.

Over the years I’ve come more and more to the realization that “we bring each other to Christ” when we are able to live our faith generously and honestly. When I am out on long car road trips—perhaps it is the simple act of being on the move—I find that many memories flood in of great people, places, and experiences that have guided me and shown me the way in life. Parents, teachers, friends, family, those we love, co-workers are all essential to us on the journeys we take in life. And we are also the same for them. We help each other find and live anew in the Grace that God offers to us on our life journeys with all the consolation, challenges, joys, surprises, disappointments, and at times, even failures. God and Grace are in all of this and more. We celebrate God’s generous offer to go to Graceland to be with the Risen Lord always.
—Francis T. Hannafey SJ

Today’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.