Short Talks
This section of the website comprises short stand-alone talks and articles on different aspects of the Christian Faith, including the teaching of Jesus, the seasons of the Church’s Year and Feasts and Festivals. More talks/sermons/homilies/articles will be added in due course.
The section of the website entitled The Christian Faith provides more extended teaching on larger content areas, such as the Creed and the Sacraments.
Bartholomew, Apostle
St Bartholomew is one of the 12 Apostles and after Our Lord’s Ascension he was one of the disciples who prayed together in the upper room in Jerusalem (Acts 1:12-14). ‘Bar’ means ‘son of’ and so Bartholomew is not the Apostle’s proper name – it is the name derived from his father and means the son of Tholomew or Tolmai (as in Bartimaeus and Barjona). (1)
To be with him
“And he appointed twelve…to be with him…” (NRSV, Mark 3:14)
Very little is known of St Bartholomew the Apostle, though there is reason to believe that he was the same person as Nathanael who was introduced to Jesus by Philip and who was one of the seven disciples to whom the risen Jesus appeared on the shore of the Lake of Galilee. The readings for his feast, therefore, are concerned with the Apostles in general.
George, Martyr
St George is the Patron Saint of England. His festival is April 23rd and, as he was martyred for the Faith, the liturgical colour is red, symbolising blood.
In 2011, April 23rd falls on Holy Saturday so the festival is transferred to May 2nd. For a short talk please see St George: Loyalty to Christ.