(Please read this Scripture passage first, before the homily.)
We celebrate the feast of the Apostle Bartholomew. We know little of him beyond the fact that he is an Apostle. Out first reading today illustrates our lack of details about him. The reading describes the new city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, the place where God dwells.
Let us elaborate on the place where God dwells.
In the book of Genesis, God revealed himself to Abraham, but did not seem to have a place to call home: he visited Abraham at Abraham’s tent. Later God revealed himself to Jacob at Bethel, which means House of God.
In the Exodus, God wandered with the people, but had a special presence at the Tabernacle, a mobile structure made of animal hides. One could call it a portable temple for the Lord.
The temple in Jerusalem, made of stone and fine lumber, replaced the wandering temple-tent. This in turn was replaced by a rebuilt temple after the exile. Ezekiel even had a vision of a temple more magnificent than these structures in Jerusalem.
Lastly the book of Revelation has a vision of the grandest of all temple buildings. It would be unlike the others, which were built on earth to make us one with the Lord God in heaven. This new temple of Revelation, would come down out of heaven to earth and God would dwell personally in this new temple in the New Jerusalem.
The dimensions of the new city and the description of the gates, walls and structures recall details from the earlier temples and liturgies. Precious stones, gold, gates and foundations recall the twelve tribes of ancient Israel and the garments of the priests of the temple.
You may ask, however, about Bartholomew. The foundation of this new city of God is the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Bartholomew and the other eleven are the foundation. We are part of this New Jerusalem, but we are built upon the only foundation that will endure, that of the apostles. This is the foundation laid by Christ and guaranteed by Christ.
I have given you a brief tour of this New Jerusalem. Please keep your ticket stubs. It is proof that you belong here when your journey brings you back here.