It's a big day for me. Today’s St Bartholomew’s day and I’m mindful especially of its being the patronal Feast at the Church I help out at in Brighton. It’s a high Church in more sense than one, the tallest parish Church in England with a great choral worship tradition.
We actually kept the patronal last Saturday before the towering altar with angels ascending on immense mosaics behind the holy table illustrating today’s Gospel from St John’s Gospel Chapter 1 verse 51 where Jesus says to Nathanael known as Bartholomew: Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.
We know little about apostle Bartholomew save this promise Our Lord gave us through him that we would see his glory. As Jacob in the Old Testament saw heaven open and angels ascending and descending on a ladder Christians are promised a taste of heaven as they worship in Jesus Christ, God’s provision for access to himself.
The Feast of St Bartholomew is a special call to worship at which we recite the Gloria at the eucharist, song of the angels, emblazoned in mosaic behind the altar in the Brighton Church under his patronage. Such worship is part of a continuum stretching back to the angels before the world was made and set to continue with the angels and the saints when this world has crumbled to dust. Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.
By our participation in this sacred mystery may we be cleansed of our sins, negligences and offences and better fitted to join in that worship of heaven when God will be all in all!
O saving Victim opening wide the gate of heaven to man below: our foes press hard on every side: Thine aid supply, thy strength bestow.
With angels and archangels and all the company of heaven we laud and magnify your holy name evermore praising you and saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Glory be to you O Lord most high! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
So be it - with St Bartholomew and all the Saints - glory to God!
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