Today we celebrate the life of St Bartholomew as Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of John (1: 45-51) in which Philip says, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, the one about whom the prophets wrote.”

Fr Paul says we know that Bartholomew was born at Cana in Galilee and we know, from today’s Gospel, despite some confusion with the names that it is the apostle, Philip, who brings Bartholomew (or Nathaniel as we hear) to Jesus.  Apart from that not a lot is really known about him.  We read in some writings from Eusebius that he was in India at some point in time. We also think he was killed in Armenia, skinned alive as was the Persian custom of the time.  The relics of St Bartholomew were enshrined on an island in the Tiber and the island was also used at a hospital, so Bartholomew is also patron saint of the sick.

For our reflection today, Fr Paul says we might call to mind all those of our family and friends who are suffering in some way of sickness of whatever kind and call on St Bartholomew to pray for us.

Fr Paul says today’s feast is very appropriate for him, personally, as today is Day 2 of his radiation therapy, which he will be having for the next 6 or 7 weeks and he asks for your prayers.  Depending on how that progresses some of Fr Paul’s colleagues may help him out with the Gospel Reflections.

Fr Paul also gives a shout out to a very generous lady of the Parish (who he reckons must have been sick of seeing his same old two religious t-shirts so she gifted him with the new one he wears in today reflection (watch the video to the end!).