Word to the Wise
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 - Nov. 30 - St. Andrew, Apostle
[Rom 10:9-18 and Matt 4:18-22,]But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? ....Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. [Romans]
The term apostle comes from the Greek word apestellein which means to send someone to do something. The Gospel According to Luke tells us that Jesus himself gave that title to twelve of his disciples [Luke 6:13]. Andrew gets a fair amount of attention in the gospels because he was the brother of Peter and introduced Peter to Jesus. [John 1:40-42]. Competing traditions have Andrew preaching in Greece and in Scotland! What is clear is that he fulfilled the title given to him by Jesus. That title receives a wonderful description in the words of St. Paul in the first scripture for today.
Time and again in my many years in campus ministry I have met students who have become Catholics because a friend or roommate invited them to go to Mass or a scripture study or some event at the Catholic student center. This comes about because the newcomer HEARD the invitation that was PREACHED by the Catholic friend. When I see the participants in the RCIA program line up at Mass for one of the ceremonial steps in that faith journey, I also see a "sponsor" whose faith has inspired the participant. In short, not all effective preaching comes from the pulpit. {Lord knows that needs improvement!} It can be "heard" in the words and actions of dedicated Christians.
Each Sunday we profess our faith in an "apostolic Church," for which Andrew and the other apostles dedicated their lives. But they were only doing what we are called to do by virtue of our baptism. Unless we preach, no one will hear. Unless we speak, no one can listen. Nothing less than "the word of Christ" is at stake! AMEN