THERE IS LOVE IN SHARING. (Homily for August 24, 2016. Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle.)

Bible Study: Revelation 21, 9 to 14 and John 1, 45 to 51.


If you suddenly discovered a new application that allows you to do more that you could ever imagine with your phone, would you keep it to yourself? Or let’s say, you discover a new business opportunity, would you have sealed lips about it, especially, when you know that the more people you tell about the business, the richer you become?

There are three reasons why we would know something and do everything to keep it to ourselves; one, it could be we are not sure if it is true or not. So we wouldn’t want to say it out and be referred to a liars later on. Secondly, it could be that we do not consider the person worthy of hearing what we have just discovered. Thirdly, it could be that we do not see any benefit in it and we do not think it would benefit anyone else either.

Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Bartholomew, otherwise known as Nathanael. A man whom Philip shared the news of having discovered Jesus of Nazareth. Bartho (for short) would never have known Jesus if Philip had not personally introduced him. Even though it is not Philip we are celebrating today, there is need for us to highlight and reflect on the action of Philip.

The question is: Why do I find it very difficult to talk about Jesus to others? To my colleagues at work, to the stranger I find on the street, to the man I happen to share a bus ride with, to my best friend, to my family members? How come I would rather talk about a thousand and one things but carefully leave out Jesus?

How come the best evangelism I do is to introduce people to my church or to my pastor rather than to Jesus himself? How come I believe more in seeing the number of people in my church increase than in actually seeing them begin to live authentic Christian lives.

How come the only time I invite people to church is to join me raise funds for harvest or for my thanksgiving or for one ceremony or another that would involve them donating for one project or another?

Am I really convinced about my Christian faith? Am I convinced that knowing Jesus is the greatest treasure anyone can possibly find? Could this be the reason why I am often sealed lips regarding introducing people to Jesus?

Bartho on his part did not hide his deep seated convictions regarding Nazareth as a whole. “Can anything good come out of that town?” Without mincing words, this statement must have been very discouraging. When I try to talk about Jesus to others, I should not expect that they would accept what I have to say hook, line and sinker. I would be a dreamer to assume that they would immediately say “Yes, Yes, Yes, I believe.”

When you tell people about something new, their first reaction is usually negative. Negative because it is a natural human tendency to suspect that which you don’t know anything about. Negative also because of the lies you must have probably told them in the past. Negative too, because of the manner you present it or perhaps because there is not much passion in you.

Imagine a native doctor who appears wretched, poor and sickly coming out in a busy market advertising a product that he calls the ultimate secret to wealth. Funny? Right. If he knows how to be rich, then why is he still poor? Who is he trying to fool?

Philip wasn’t discouraged by Bartho’s reaction. He didn’t right him off. Instead he said: “Come and see.” When Bartho eventually became an Apostle himself, he must have remembered this experience many times and used the same strategy in spreading the Good News.

Bartho was touched merely by the fact that Jesus saw him under the fig tree. He was convinced immediately that only a Son of God could have known he was under a fig tree at that time. What was he doing under the fig tree? Could it be that Jesus was saying: “Young man, I know your secret oh.” Anyway, we would not be celebrating him today if he did not stick to Jesus and remain with him to death.

The way and manner we become converted vary. Some people’s conversion were rather dramatic, some not so. The “how” is not so important. What matters is that at some point in our lives, we become true Christians, true followers of Jesus and fully convinced about Jesus. And one way we know we are converted is when we stopped being shy about spreading the Good News.

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, use me as your instrument of salvation. Amen. St. Bartholomew, pray for us.

Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you.


Fr. Abu

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