RBWords

     There are two different traditions in the gospels as to how Andrew was called.  In today's gospel scripture from Matthew, Andrew is called from his fishing nets. In the Gospel of John, Andrew is in a crowd of disciples of John the Baptist and follows Jesus after John identifies Jesus as the "lamb of God." (John 1:40).  However Andrew was called, we know that he became one of the twelve "apostles" - a word that comes from a Greek verb meaning "to send."  St. Paul tells us that a preacher must be "sent."  Jesus "sent" the apostles to preach and heal, and when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, they learned to preach with that inspiration. 

     As a member of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), I am very much aware of the importance of preaching, but I am also aware that the preaching I do comes about because of the preaching "charism" of my community which "sends" me.  One of the most common complaints that I hear from folks in the pews is about the quality of pulpit preaching in our Catholic church.  It is true that there are many ways of "preaching," especially by our conduct, but pulpit preaching is a privileged moment in the daily and Sunday liturgical celebrations.  Those who set foot in the pulpit are supposedly "sent" by the church.  It is a terrible irony that some may be sent, but the hearers are not hearing of Christ.  St. Paul's question becomes a painful one:  And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?  I don't think St. Andrew was martyred because he was a poor preacher, but because he was an effective one!  I don't aspire to his fate, but I hope I can be worthy of being "sent."  AMEN