Word to the Wise
Thursday, November 30, 2006 - St. Andrew, Apostle
[Romans 10:9-18 and Matthew 4:18-22]As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers; Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.
The Gospel of Matthew has Jesus meeting Andrew by the Sea of Galilee. The Gospel of John has Jesus meeting Andrew when the latter followed him home. Whichever way one chooses to understand the story, it is clear that Andrew was one of the first people Jesus called to be a disciple. In the Gospel of John, Andrew "recruits" Peter and becomes the patron of vocation recruiters! Andrew' status is noted in John 12:21 when Greek-speaking persons come to Philip and say, "Sir, we should like to see Jesus." Philip takes them to Andrew, who then takes them to Jesus! After the resurrection, legend has Andrew traveling far and wide since the Greeks and the Scots claim him as a patron! Legend also has him being crucified on an X-shaped cross, which is now called the cross of St. Andrew! Perhaps this celebration can remind us of our apostolic origins as a faith and of the value of inviting others to share the faith. We may not "travel" as much as Andrew, but we can always invite folks to join us as far as we're going! AMEN
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