08/24/2026
The Feast of Saint Bartholomew
Saint Bartholomew was one of Jesus’ 12 apostles, following him throughout his ministry. It is said that after the ascension of Jesus, Bartholomew heads west and spreads the word of Jesus.
During the Great Commission, Jesus gives his followers one final mission. Go out into the world, to all nations, make disciples, baptize in the name of the Trinity and teach people on your journeys. Of course the Great Commission is found in Matthew’s Gospel (28:18-20), the one that Saint Bartholomew is said to have left behind in India. Which means we can assume that Matthew’s Gospel is the one that Bartholomew would have preached off of and maybe even that he wanted others in the areas that he had passed to teach off of too.
The Great Commission ends with Jesus telling his disciples that he is with them until the end. And Saint Bartholomew, much like a lot of disciples, is martyred in Armenia after spreading the word there. The comfort that he would have had, knowing that Jesus was with him in that moment. And that is hard thing, on one hand, his time living on earth is over, he doesn’t know what the future holds, all he has ever known is life on earth, but he knows, through faith, that there is glory in God and that he will be taken care of once he is brought into His kingdom. And there is no doubt that Saint Bartholomew would have made Jesus immensely proud in his works and faith. One that we can learn from as we leave Sunday mornings being reminded that our service in church has ended, but our service in the world has just begun.
Bartholomew’s life reminds the church, and its people, of the courage to bear witness even when unseen and of the call to proclaim Christ with integrity, steadfastness, and truth.
