It's a big day for me.
Today’s St Bartholomew’s day and we’re keeping our patronal Feast at the Church I’m helping out at in Brighton whilst it lacks a parish priest. It’s a high Church in more sense than one, the tallest parish Church in England with a great choir and worship tradition.
As we worship this weekend we’ll be doing so 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.
O saving Victim opening wide the gate of heaven to man below we sing to Christ in a favourite hymn at St Bartholomew’s. With angels and archangels and all the company of heaven we laud and magnify thy holy name evermore praising thee and singing: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee O Lord most high!
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
So be it - with St Bartholomew and all the Saints - glory to God!
Thought of the Day broadcast Friday 24th August 2018 on Premier Christian Radio
