Today's Reading: Luke 22: 24-30

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 5:1-16; 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:17

"Let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves." (Luke 22:26)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today the Church remembers St. Bartholomew, one of the twelve apostles. Legends abound about him, but little is known for certain, even his name!

Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s Gospels all mention Bartholomew, often in connection with Philip. But no Bartholomew is mentioned among the apostles in John’s Gospel. There, we encounter Nathaniel in connection with Philip (John 1:43-51). The thinking goes that Nathaniel, which means "gift of God," was this man’s first name, while Bartholomew, which means "Son of Tolmai," was his title or family name.

When we move beyond Bartholomew’s name and into his life, the information is even more difficult to sort out. Some stories have been written about this saint, saying that he traveled as far as India and took the Gospel to a group in Bombay. Another tradition has it that he and Thaddeus brought the Gospel to the kingdom of Armenia. These two are recognized as the patron saints of Armenia. That legend also makes the well-known claim that Bartholomew was skinned alive and beheaded, something which has been portrayed by many artists over the centuries. Yet another legend states that Bartholomew went to Ethiopia. We just don’t know.

What is the reason for all these legends surrounding St. Bartholomew and the rest of the Lord’s apostles? It is likely because people have wanted to invent an association between their group and someone famous. They wanted to believe that someone who knew Jesus personally and was one of His insiders, also had some kind of connection with them. People still do this today. If you have a friend who has ever met a celebrity or a famous or powerful person of some kind, they have likely told you (and everyone else they know) all about it!

Jesus wanted His chosen twelve to know that power and glory were not what they were to be looking for. Instead, He taught that the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven are those who appear to be least on earth, for they are servants.

We may feel like the least important person on earth, but through our Baptism into Christ, we are exalted and made perfect before God. That makes us free to be a servant to others as we rejoice in this truth that remains. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord, help us walk Your servant way wherever love may lead And, bending low, forgetting self, Each serve the other’s need. ("Lord, Help Us Walk Your Servant Way" LSB 857, st.1)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch