宗徒聖巴爾多祿茂慶日

那時候，斐理伯遇到納塔乃耳，就向他說：「梅瑟在法律上所記載，和先知們所預報的，我們找著了，就是若瑟的兒子，出身於納匝肋的耶穌。」納塔乃耳便向他說：「從納匝肋還能出什麼好事嗎？」斐理伯向他說：「你來看一看吧！」耶穌看見納塔乃耳向自己走來，就指著他說：「看，這確是一個以色列人，在他內毫無詭詐。」納塔乃耳向他說：「你從那裏認識我呢？」耶穌回答說：「斐理伯叫你以前，當你還在無花果樹下時，我就看見了你。」納塔乃耳回答說：「辣彼！你是天主子，你是以色列的君王。」耶穌遂說道：「因為我向你說：我看見了你在無花果樹下，你就信了嗎？你要看見比這更大的事！」又向他說：「我實實在在告訴你們：你們要看見天開，天主的天使在人子身上，上去下來。」
若望福音 1:45-51

今天教會慶祝宗徒聖巴爾多祿茂的慶日。他在若望福音被稱為納塔乃耳。當斐理伯對他說耶穌就是舊約預許的默西亞，憑福音的描述，我們可以想像納塔乃耳聳聳肩，說：「從納匝肋還能出什麼好事嗎？」他對來自那地方的人沒有絲毫期望。但因著斐理伯對他的邀請，他還是去看看。

納塔乃耳跟伯多祿有點相似，他們在意識到耶穌是誰以後，便馬上明認祂是天主子。我們在此看到斐理伯做了一件很重要的事，他把耶穌介紹給他這位輕視納匝肋的好朋友，若非因著他的一句話：「你來看一看吧！」，納塔乃耳可能要拐好幾個彎才認識到耶穌。

耶穌讚賞納塔乃耳：「在他內毫無詭詐」，這是指他誠實、真摯，不會為取悅他人而說奉承話。讓我們也反省一下自己的一言一行，耶穌會否也稱我們「毫無詭詐」呢？如果未能做到的話，我們祈求耶穌的寬恕和協助，希望也能早日如納塔乃耳一樣，得到耶穌的讚賞。

一些記載指聖巴爾多祿茂是被活生生剝皮並釘死在十字架上，亦有傳統提及他是被斬首殉道。聖巴爾多祿茂的象徵物是一把刀子，表示他是被人用這把刀子剝皮，傳統圖像上也會出現手臂上挽著自己的皮。

聖巴爾多祿，為我等祈！

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
John 1:45-51

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Bartholomew. In the Gospel of John, he was called Nathanael. When Philip told him that he had found Jesus to be the Messiah, we can imagine him shrugging his shoulders as he said: "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" He had absolutely no expectation for anyone who came from that place. But due to Philip's invitation, he went to take a look.

Nathanael is pretty similar to Peter. Once he realized Jesus' identity, he proclaimed at once that Jesus is the Son of God. We see that Philip did done something extremely important, he introduced Jesus to his good friend who looked down on Nazareth. If not for his words: "Come and see", it might take Nathanael a lot more time before he came to know Jesus.

Jesus gave Nathanael a pretty strong compliment: "There is no duplicity in him." This means he was honest and genuine. He would not use flattering speech. Let us also reflect our own words and actions, would Jesus also say the same thing to us? If we fall short, let us pray for Jesus' forgiveness and assistance, that we could get the same compliment that Nathanael once got.

Tradition holds that St. Bartholomew was flayed alive and crucified, according to another tradition, he was beheaded. St. Bartholomew is often shown with a large knife, holding his own skin, or both.

St. Bartholomew, pray for us!

福傳聖巴爾多祿納塔乃耳

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