Saint Bartholomew, whose feast the Church celebrates today is traditionally identified with the apostle Nathanael. It is no wonder then that the Gospel passage for the day describes the encounter between Nathanael and Jesus. When Philip invites Nathanael to follow Jesus, Nathanael's initial reaction is one of disbelief. He does not think it possible that the Messiah should come from an insignificant place as Nazareth. After all, it never played any important part on the religious or political life of Israel. Yet, he is a person who is "without guile", that is, one who is faithful, upright and sincere before God.

Jesus' special knowledge of Nathanael leads him to know and express faith in Jesus as the Son of God and messianic king of Israel. After Nathanael has responded to Jesus' self-revelation, Jesus now assures the disciples that there are many more marvellous things to discover about him. The image that Jesus uses of angels ascending and descending is linked to the Old Testament idea that God reveals His presence to Israel in places of worship (Gen. 28, 12). In addition, the "opening of the heavens" points to an extraordinary contact between God and humanity. Similarly, Jesus is the special "place" where God manifests Himself to man. It means that the disciples will see in Jesus the power and life of God Himself. Like Nathanael, may we too always remain faithful, upright and sincere before God. It is only in this way that we may we be able to more fully contemplate Jesus, in whom the power and life of God is present.