Background Role

In the spring of 2010 I traveled to New Orleans with some friends. There were four of us total who took in the sights and sounds of the Big Easy. We ate at famous restaurants and hole-in-the-wall places, took a walk down Bourbon Street, rode the trolleys, and generally had a blast. When looking back on the trip though something strange emerges. Although there were four of us along for the ride, the pictures make it look as though there were only three of us there.

Back in the dark ages before every cell phone doubled as a smart phone and tripled as a decent camera—back in those days—one had to use a digital camera to capture moments. One of my friends just so happened to be the person who always grabbed the camera to take pictures of the rest of us. Although I remember my photographer friend enjoying the trip, making all of us crack up in laughter, and deepening our relationship in the process, the way that I remember his part in that trip differs because of the lack of photographic evidence. In much the same way, the Apostle Bartholomew quietly witnessed Jesus’ earthly ministry almost blending into the background in the process.

Today we celebrate the life and martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew whom the synoptic Gospel writers remember as an Apostle. While his name appears in Matthew’s, Mark’s, and Luke’s lists of disciples, we do not hear another detail about his life within Holy Scripture. Legend professes that Bartholomew suffered a gruesome death in which he was skinned alive on the Caspian Sea. Other than this tale and Bartholomew’s inclusion in Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, we do not have many details about this saint. Still, Bartholomew was part of the Jesus movement in his day and well worth us remembering.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry Bartholomew remained present witnessing the life, death, and resurrected existence of Jesus. When Jesus called people to follow him and become fishers of people Bartholomew took up that call. During Jesus’ teaching Bartholomew was there. As Jesus healed the sick, the blind, and the lame Bartholomew was there. At the moment when Jesus fed the masses Bartholomew was there. Even when Jesus raised people from the dead Bartholomew was there.

As Jesus’ ministry focused in on Jerusalem and the events of Holy Week, there too Bartholomew was there. Bartholomew walked into the Holy City laying Palm Branches down in front of Jesus. Bartholomew partook of the Last Supper and had his feet washed by Jesus. Bartholomew heard the great commandment to love one another as Jesus had loved them. Even when Jesus was betrayed, tortured, and killed Bartholomew—although sheepishly from a distance—must have experienced these moments too.

On the Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead, Bartholomew also experienced the mystifying aftermath of the Resurrection. Hidden in the upper room Bartholomew was present when Jesus appeared to his disciples to show them the path of life goes through death. Bartholomew’s own life must have also been transformed if the legend of his martyrdom remains true. Even if he did not play a prominent role in Holy Scripture we receive a powerful witness from the life and death of this saint.

Our lives with Christ do not always have to be flashy like Saint Peter or verbose like Saint Paul. We do not have to be ethereal like Saint John or evangelical like Saint Andrew. We may not be dutiful like the Blessed Virgin Mary or compassionate like Saint Mary Magdalene. Sometimes we must embody the spiritual life of Saint Bartholomew. Sometimes we benefit from watching from the background as Jesus transforms our lives. Once we witness the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus we may experience the same type of overwhelming transformation as Bartholomew. May we follow his witness and regardless of what part we play in the story—may our story become part of the story of Christ!

Being Great (by Being Less): James the Apostle

My freshman year of college started out pretty rough. Even though I had spent summers away at camp this was the first time I was truly left to my own devices. At first, I struggled not so much with planning my routine or balancing school work and other commitments, but something else. While I went to church every Sunday and even served as an acolyte, spiritually I felt disconnected but not how you might imagine. I did not immediately make deep connections with classmates. At first—it seemed—making friends was pretty far down on my list of priorities. That was until one foggy day during the winter.

A friend invited me to a small group meeting of people she thought I would like and immediately everything changed. I found people who were awake and alive spiritually. Previously I thought that apart from my roommate and a couple of teammates that mostly all of the people at Sewanee were godless heathens—okay, that is taking it a little too far, but I was concerned that so many did not seem interested in cultivating deeper roots—school and sports and parties can only get one so far. On that fateful, foggy day I was invited to join a men’s small group that would study the Bible and join together in fellowship, accountability, and support. We called ourselves unabashedly “The Sons of Thunder,” which was the nickname Jesus gave to the sons of Zebedee whose names were John and James. While it may sound boastful quite often that nickname fit.

This group of young men boisterously laughed together, passionately studied the life of Christ together (even trying to learn Greek on our own), and boldly attempted to live our lives modeled after Jesus’ own together. However, this was not the only way in which we were like the original sons of thunder, James and John. Like the brothers we heard about in today’s Gospel lesson, we too would try to outdo one another in everything, as each of us yearned to be the greatest—in anything and everything. Some would compete over the right interpretation of Scripture, others tried to be involved in the most Christian activities, and we would even compete in eating contests, billiards, ping pong, or just about anything else. I worked out my spiritual greatness by joining the ranks of the chapel’s sacristan guild (a group of students that were a mix between acolytes and an altar guild). And, not only that I studied so hard yearning to have the honor of valedictorian of my sacristan class.

At first seeking spiritual greatness felt so right, as I was alive inside and excited about these deeper friendships. And yet, eventually I discovered that seeking greatness for myself or outdoing others for earthly accolades leaves one feeling empty. Of course, if I had truly listened to what Jesus said in Matthew 20:25-28 perhaps I could have avoided this vain pursuit in the first place.

Jesus said to his disciples, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

To truly serve another requires us to give up all hope of our own greatness. To become a true servant we cannot bank on something in return for our servitude. To be like Christ we must be willing to lay everything else down to pick up our crosses. Even if we are ostensibly doing good, if it is to outdo someone else then it is worthless.

Eventually James the Apostle, whom we celebrate today in the life of the Church would understand this. He may have sought his own greatness before Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection but, as Jesus rose from the dead God transformed James’ motivation. James became the first apostle to taste death through martyrdom. One seeking one’s own glory has a very hard time standing up to such persecution if the end is merely outdoing someone else. James laid down his life for God’s glory not his own.

James was transformed by the Resurrection. He no longer sought beating others to the top spot. Instead, he became a servant of the Good News. He shared God’s love in missionary journeys and in laying down his life. We too are called to be servants of God by sharing the Good News of God’s transforming love. May we not seek our own greatness, the best seats, the favored positions, or even to be the greatest servant. Instead, may we become servants of all willing to give up everything to share God’s love with all whom we meet.