578. August 24, St Bartholomew, Apostle

Meditations no. 508 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

Our Lord praised St Bartholomew for his simplicity.

For several months they had followed in the Master’s footsteps along the roads of Palestine. One day, at the top of a small mountain, Christ chose those he wanted to have alongside him. St Ambrose comments, He called together his disciples and selected twelve of them. He wants to send them out to plant the seeds of faith throughout the entire world, bringing salvation to all men and women. Note how God acts. He chooses fishermen and tax-collectors-not the wealthy, not the intellectuals, not those with social prestige- so that no one will be won over by cleverness, redeemed by money, or attracted by human prestige

Bartholomew (or Nathanael, as the Gospel sometimes calls him) was one of the twelve men chosen by Jesus. A resident of the town of Cana in Galilee, he was a friend of the apostle Philip. Thanks to Philip’s friendship he came to know our Lord one spring day near the Jordan.

Perhaps Bartholomew had come from Galilee to Jericho, as other pious Jews had done, to listen to the Baptist’s teaching. John, Peter, Andrew and Philip were also there. They had already heard the commanding voice of Christ inviting them to leave everything and follow him. On their way back to Galilee, Philip, perhaps just outside of Jericho, came upon his friend Nathanael. Their conversation was short and to the point. We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

From the moment that he is first mentioned in the Gospels, Bartholomew displays a simplicity that earns Jesus’ praise. Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael’s words express exactly what he is thinking. But he accepts Philip’s invitation to come and see, to get to know our Lord. And soon he will tell Jesus, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!, thus correcting, in all simplicity, the words he had just so hastily uttered.

Simplicity has a special importance among the virtues required by the spirit of the Work. We know that the spiritual formation which all of the members of Opus Dei receive is especially directed toward helping them simplify their lives, so that they learn to forget about themselves and be concerned generously with others. The spiritual formation given to the faithful of Opus Dei tries to avoid them becoming interiorly complicated, devious or twisted, Our Father often told us that our asceticism possesses the simplicity of the Gospel. We would complicate it if we were complicated, if we kept our heart hidden, if our sincerity were not complete.

Simplicity means simplification, naturalness, openness, the necessary consequence of a clean heart. For even as a star’s property is the light that emanates from it, so the property of a pious and God-fearing man is simplicity and humility. Simplicity is opposed to affectation in word and deed, to officiousness, which stems from an unacknowledged desire to call attention to oneself, and also to pedantry, self-sufficient airs and boastfulness. … .

Sincerity is an indispensable virtue for living the spirit of Opus Dei.

Jesus’ praise for Nathanael not only shows us his liking for simplicity of life but also reveals how his heart is drawn to sincere persons. O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me! Thou knowest when I sit down and when I rise up.

Sincerity is a virtue that is intimately connected to simplicity. It leads us to reveal ourselves clearly and truthfully in our speech, just as we are. It is an indispensable virtue for following Christ, since he is the Truth itself and detests all deceit. I am the way, and the truth, and the life. Consequently, in all surroundings we have to be messengers of the light of that saving divine Truth.

According to tradition, St Bartholomew the apostle preached the Gospel in Arabia and Armenia. In order to spread divine Truth as he did, we too must be very sincere: with God, with the directors and with ourselves. Then our entire life will be authentic and correspond to the intimate truth of our being dedicated souls. Our Father writes, Meditate on the clear and wonderful words of St Paul: Our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we have behaved in the world, and still more toward you, with simplicity and godly sincerity (2 Cor 1: 12). This is the Work’s glory. And this is what we must each strive to live in every personal situation and circumstance.

The simplicity and sincere naturalness of our spirit will shine brightly in the world before men, if you make a refined effort to attain a childlike simplicity and sincerity in your dealings with God, and if you continually try to ensure that your thoughts, words and deeds are in accord with the Truth.

Be sincere and simple also toward those in the Work who have the mission of directing and forming you, so that they can guide and help you affectionately and firmly, with understanding and effectiveness. Be sincere in a refined way, but be “brutally” sincere.

You shouldn’t be afraid to reveal anything that could facilitate your being directed, that will bring you to God, improve your spirit and formation, quickly heal any wound, and straighten out any deviation in time, no matter how serious it may be or seem to be. Never forget that the only truly serious thing would be to hide the wound or deviation from the one who is physician, guide and shepherd.

Nathanael was sincere and simple. And our Lord rewarded him with eternal glory at the end of a lifetime in his service. “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Spiritual childhood, simplicity and sincerity.

The root of simplicity lies in humility, which recognizes and admits the true situation of our soul. Self-knowledge leads us to place ourselves completely in our Lord’s hands, to break down the barriers and obstacles that separate us from the loving demands of God, from the unconditional obedience that we owe our directors, from the unlimited affection and attention that we ought to show our brothers or sisters. But to do so we have to become little children.

This was the advice that Jesus gave to his apostles: At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” And St Jerome comments, Even as this child, whose example I propose to you, does not think one thing and then say another, so also in your case, unless you possess a similar innocence and purity of intention, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Become as little children in one’s spiritual life. It is the whole programme for supernatural life that Jesus recommended to Nicodemus. Our Father insisted: Become children before God. Only thus will we know how to be fully mature men on earth. For through our simplicity the hand of God will work firmly and securely. Be children before God. Have complete trust, as a little one trusts his mother. He doesn’t worry about tomorrow or about anything else because his mother looks after him. God looks after us if we are simple.

Only when we become like children, being simple and sincere like Nathanael, will we have the humility to accept our wretchedness and our personal errors without becoming discouraged or losing our peace, with the joy of the children of God. You are discouraged, why? Is it your sins and miseries? Is it you defeats, at times coming one after the other? A really big fall, which you didn’t expect?

Be simple. Open your heart. Look: as yet nothing has been lost. You can still go forward, and with more love, with more affection, with more strength.

Take refuge in your divine sonship: God is your most loving Father. In this lies your security, a haven where you can drop anchor no matter what is happening on the surface of the sea of life. And you will find joy, strength, optimism: victory!

Moreover, the life of spiritual childhood and the simplicity and sincerity that accompany it will give us a special ability to convert even our defeats into victories. Child, each day offer Him… even your frailties. We will enjoy an unshakable peace and joy. Being a child you’ll have no cares; children quickly forget what troubles them and return to their usual games. With abandonment, therefore, you won’t have to worry, for you will rest in the Father.

If we are very small, our Mother, the Blessed Virgin, will take care of us. Mary will shelter us in her motherly arms, and when God calls us into his presence, she will intercede lovingly on our behalf.