A WORD FOR TODAY 24 AUGUST 2019

*A WORD FOR TODAY*

_Today we celebrate the feast of the apostle saint Bartholomew. He was born in Cana and was brought by the apostle Philip to encounter Jesus. It is said that he was martyred in Armenia by being skinned alive according to the Persian custom and today he is known as the patron saint of the sick. He is a wonderful person who has a good heart and when Jesus saw him, He said, 'here is an Israelite who is incapable of deceit'._

_*The apostles were men chosen from among men by Christ to be His close companions in the work of propagating the gospel. They were all called at different times and given various tasks to execute, but by the same Lord and they all died for the sake of Christ who has called them and for the Good News they proclaimed. However, their death was not in vain because their work speaks for them and their names have been written on the foundation stones of the new city of Jerusalem coming down from heaven S recorded in the first reading of today.*_

_Philip was the instrument that God used to draw Bartholomew nearer to Himself and he played his part well because after his encounter he felt the need to share the Good News and to let others come to know who Jesus is. If he had not let God make use of him, we may not have known who Bartholomew is today. We must always be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that we can play our role as instruments of evangelization in God's hand._

_*Bartholomew was transformed after his encounter with Jesus. Before he met with Him, he doubted if he was truly the Messiah when he told Philip, "can anything good come out of Nazareth" He looked down on the city and the people, but that encounter changed his perception and he became a new man. We should try not to be too quick to make judgement about people, but to try to see something good we can learn from them, add to our own knowledge and grow.*_

_We must be like Bartholomew whom the Lord called, transformed and made a vessel for the propagation of the Good News. We must let the Lord touch us so that we can become holy and serve Him well here on earth so as to be with Him in heaven on the last day. It does not matter when you came to know the Lord, but how focused and consistent you will be in keeping his laws and decrees is all that counts._

_*The apostle Bartholomew is an example for us in this regard. We must learn from Him to grow our desire to know God more and to seek to encounter Him always and to help others to come and find Him as we have found Him. We must also strive to be like Jesus at all times and in all places and to spread the light of Christ everywhere we go so that many who have not known him will come to be with Him.*_

_Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a wonderful weekend. May God strengthen your faith as you make effort to serve Him in this life as saint Bartholomew did. Amen. *And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* Apocalypse 21:9-14/Psalm 145:10-13,17-18/John 1:45-51

*Watch-Word:* Come and see what the Lord has done.

_*God can make use of you if only you will draw close to Him and let Him transform you into a worthy vessel of transmission of the Good News.*_