St. Bartholomew

Today the Church remembers the life and ministry of St. Bartholomew, an Apostle.  The New Testament mentions Bartholomew 4 times: Matthew 10:3; Mark 3.13-23; Luke 6:14; Acts of the Apostles 1:8-18.  The name “Bartholomew” is a patronymic, meaning “son of Tolmai (or Talmai)”; therefore, it is likely that he had another name, perhaps Nathaniel as in John 1:45–51 where he is introduced as a friend of Philip. He is described as initially being skeptical about the Messiah coming from Nazareth, saying: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  Nevertheless, he follows Jesus.

 

Legend has it that he preached in India and Greater Armenia, where he was flayed and beheaded by King Astyages.

 

What we do know is this; Bartholomew left all that he had and followed Jesus.  He did not follow Jesus to become famous or wealthy, but quite the opposite.  Bartholomew followed Jesus because he knew him to be the Christ, the Redeemer of the world, and Bartholomew gave up all that he had to preach the Good News of Jesus without counting the cost.  How many of us can say that we have left even a fraction of what we have to follow Jesus?  Bartholomew is a reminder to us that each of us is called, in our own way, to make Christ known in the world by the way we live and interact with others.

 

Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, who gave to your apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach your Word: Grant that your Church may love what he believed and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

 

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT MADE OUR 130^TH ANNIVERSARY AND ST. AUGUSTINE’S FEAST DAY A WONDERFUL AND FAITH FILLED EVENT.

 

If you want to pray the Daily Office (the Daily Prayer of the Church around the world), you can do so easily by clicking on Today’s Prayer Service at http://www.missionstclare.com/english/

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Next Sunday is Blessing of the Backpacks at the 9 AM Eucharist.

 

Invite Someone to Church Sunday is on the 21^st of September 2014.  Please invite someone to Church to experience the joy of the Good News.

 

The 6^th Annual Art Show, “Let There Be Light,” will be from the 4^th of October for 1 week.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550