“Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men.” MT 4: 19

 

Today we celebrate the last feast of the liturgical year by honoring St. Andrew the Apostle, the brother of St. Peter. Not much is known about him from the New Testament, however, what is known is very important for all of us to live our Faith daily.

We know that St. Andrew was a disciple of St. John the Baptist, who pointed Andrew to the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:36). St. Andrew is curious; more than that, he is an honest and serious seeker. We know Jesus takes him seriously, by urging him to “Come and see!” St. Andrew leaves immediately and in an effort to learn more about this “Lamb of God,” we are told that he “stayed” with Jesus to get to know Him better. What a great example for us to ponder during this Advent, to take time to stay with Jesus and get to know Him.  Then, having been suitably impressed by this Jesus, St. Andrew then hastens not only to inform his older brother Peter about his experience, but unequivocally declares, “We have found the Messiah” (Jn 1:41).  Who is the last person we introduced to Jesus, the Messiah?

There is even more we can learn, in a few short Gospel verses, some very significant details about St. Andrew and ourselves. First, we discover that he is the first disciple directly called by Our Lord, thus earning him the title in the Eastern Churches of Protokletos or “First-Called.” That would be edifying information, but simply being “First-Called” doesn’t mean much if that’s where it stays. So, St. John Chrysostom underscores the next phase: “Andrew, after staying with Jesus and after having learned what He did, did not keep the treasure to himself but hurries and races to his brother in order to let him know the good things Jesus has shared with him.”  St. Chrysostom explains further, “This is what brotherly affection, natural friendship, is all about when someone is eager to extend a hand to another when it comes to spiritual matters.” And so, the “First-Called” is equally the First Evangelist.

The next time we meet Andrew is in the sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel as Jesus and Philip are discussing possibilities for feeding the multitude. St. Andrew comes up with a potential solution, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish.” Jesus acts on Andrew’s suggestion with His almighty power. Ever imagine what the young boy thought of what he had and how it was used?  Yet that is what Jesus does, takes what we have and use it to feed multitudes, and not just with food, but what is needed, if we are willing. St. Andrew’s third appearance in the Fourth Gospel occurs in chapter 12 as some Greeks tell Philip, “We wish to see Jesus.” Philip immediately enlists the assistance of Andrew and, together, they approach Our Lord with the request.

 

In all three instances where St. Andrew is featured in the Gospels, we find him “introducing strangers to Christ,” as St. John Henry Cardinal Newman puts it in his homily for this Feast, we might rightly call St. Andrew, “The Grand Facilitator.” It is worth noting that these three encounters happen in hiddenness, with no great splash or public acclaim. St. Cardinal Newman makes the point that Andrew’s initial action not only brings Peter to Christ but ultimately enables Peter to become the Prince of the Apostles, leaving Andrew in the shadows. Cardinal Newman goes on to suggest that this often happens in the Christian life.  This should inspire us to also spare no effort in spreading the Good News of Jesus.

St. Pope John Paul II said in his missionary encyclical, Redemptoris Missio, ” Faith is strengthened when it is given to others!” “Even more to the point, the finest thing anyone can do for another human being is to introduce that person to Jesus Christ, following the example of St. Andrew.”  Tradition informs us that St. Andrew preached the Gospel in Scythia and was martyred in Achaia by crucifixion. Like his brother Peter, Andrew deemed himself unworthy to be crucified like his Lord and Savior; thus, he asked to be nailed to a cross in the shape of the letter “X”; to this day, we refer to that image as “St. Andrew’s Cross.”  Tradition also says that St. Andrew preached the Gospel from his cross for two days, to all who passed by, before dying.

May God’s Grace and Blessings Always be with You and Yours!!

 

Shalom,

Deacon Bob

St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church

Houston, TX