Gospel (Jn 1,45-51) - At that time, Philip found Nathanael and said to him: "We have found him about whom Moses, in the Law, and the Prophets wrote: Jesus, the son of Joseph, of Nazareth." Nathanael said to him: «Can anything good come from Nazareth?». Philip answered him: "Come and see." Meanwhile, Jesus, seeing Nathanael coming to meet him, said of him: "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no falsehood." Nathanael asked him: "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him: "Before Philip called you, I saw you when you were under the fig tree." Nathanael replied to him: "Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the king of Israel!". Jesus answered him: «Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these! Then 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."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

The Church today celebrates the feast of the apostle Bartholomew, whose remains are found in Rome, in the church dedicated to him on the Tiber Island. In this basilica, entrusted to the care of the Community of Sant'Egidio, the memory of the apostle is preserved alongside that of many witnesses of the faith who, in this time and in every part of the world, continue to give their lives for the Gospel. A memorial has been set up there which preserves many relics of many new martyrs of the last two centuries. The relics of Saint Bartholomew testify to the bond of the new martyrs with the apostolic Church. The apostle Bartholomew - tradition says - brought the Gospel to Armenia, crossing the lands of Syria and present-day Iraq, still today marked by the suffering of many Christians persecuted for their faith. We better understand the words that Jesus addressed to Bartholomew (who tradition identifies with the Nathanael of this first chapter of John): "You will see greater things than these!". There is always a greater love that the Lord shows and teaches us, first offering the same life as him. And we are witnesses of this love. It is a testimony that is communicated from heart to heart. Like then, when Philip reports to Nathanael that he has found "the one about whom Moses, in the Law, and the Prophets wrote: Jesus, the son of Joseph, of Nazareth". In replying to him, Nathanael brings out a rather heavy prejudice: "Can anything good come from Nazareth?". It is the prejudice against everything that comes from outside, that doesn't talk about me, that doesn't put my "I" at the center of everything. When Jesus sees Nathanael approaching he exclaims: "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no falsehood." Nathanael-Bartholomew is touched by these words: he feels known and loved, and recognizes Jesus as the Lord of life and history.