Homily given by Bishop Anthony Randazzo
Bishop of Broken Bay
Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
24 August 2025
Today the Church gives us a beautiful convergence of grace. It is the 21 Sunday in Ordinary Time, and it is also the feast of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, a man of mystery, yes, but also of profound faith. And as we journey through this Holy Year of Hope, we are reminded that this hope we carry is not just an emotion, it is a calling, a mission, a way of life. So, let us ask: What is the Lord saying to us today, through His Word, through Saint Bartholomew, and through this sacred year of Hope?
Our first reading from Isaiah gives us a glimpse of God’s great plan: “I am coming to gather the nations of every language.” (Isaiah 66:18) This is not a small, tribal religion. This is a faith for the world. God’s love reaches beyond every border, every language, every people. And God calls us, yes us, to be part of that mission.
In the Gospel, Jesus gives us a sobering word: “Try your best to enter by the narrow gate.” (Luke 13:23) Not all who knock will be welcomed. Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter. That is a hard message. But Jesus is not trying to scare us. He is trying to wake us up.
The word “strive” in the original Greek is ἀγωνίζεσθε ag-on-i-zest-he, from which we get the word agony. It means to fight, to struggle, to give everything. Salvation is not passive. Holiness is not a hobby. Heaven is not automatic. We must strive, we must live with intention, with integrity, and with faith.
And that brings us to Saint Bartholomew. He is one of the Twelve Apostles, and yet so much of his life is shrouded in mystery. We do not know where exactly he was born. We do not know much about his background or his personality. Tradition holds that he preached the Gospel in places like India or Armenia, and that he died a martyr’s death. But the Gospels give us only a brief glimpse of him, especially in the first chapter of John’s Gospel, when Jesus sees him and says: “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him.” (John 1:47) That is it. One line. One sentence from the mouth of Christ.
But oh, what a sentence. “There is no duplicity in him.” That means he is a man of integrity. One who does not wear masks. A person who does not say one thing and do another. A disciple who walks in the light and lives by the truth.
In a world filled with pretences, with half-truths, with false appearances, Bartholomew is real. Authentic. Wholehearted. That is the kind of disciple Jesus calls blessed. Not necessarily the famous, the loud, or the powerful, but the honest, the upright, the faithful.
And so, in this Holy Year of Hope, we are invited to walk the same road. Hope is not just about wishing things were better. Christian hope is born from the victory of Jesus Christ. It is a confident trust in God’s promises, even when the road is narrow. Even when the door seems shut. Even when the world seems dark.
Saint Bartholomew’s life reminds us that it is possible to live with hope and with integrity. It is possible to be hidden from the world, while at the same time to be known and loved by God. It is possible to live simply, quietly, honestly, and still change the world.
So, my sisters and brothers, what does this mean for us, right here, today? First, I am convinced that it means we must strive to live as Saint Bartholomew did. That means living honest lives. Lives of integrity. No duplicity. No pretending. No spiritual laziness.
As we heard in the Letter to the Hebrews today, “The Lord trains the ones He loves.” (Heb 12:6) His discipline is not punishment, it is preparation. It is love.
Second, it means we must carry the Gospel beyond our own circles. Beyond our families and our parishes. As Jesus tells us in Mark’s Gospel: “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.” (Mark 16:15) That is not just a job for missionaries. It is the work of every baptized Christian.
And so, I invite you to ask yourself today:
- Where is the Lord sending me?
- Who in my life needs to hear a word of hope?
- What corner of the world, near or far, might be waiting for the light I carry?
My dear people, in this Holy Year of Hope, let us not waste the gift we have been given. We are to be like Saint Bartholomew, honest, faithful, courageous. Let us strive to enter by the narrow gate, not with fear, but with joy and purpose. And let us go out, beyond our comfort zones, to tell the Good News of Jesus Christ. The world is aching for hope. We cannot merely talk about it. In faith, we are compelled to live it.
Saint Bartholomew, Apostle of Truth, pray for us.
Jesus, our Hope and our Salvation, lead us on, in your holy name. Amen.