The first-called of the Twelve walked in the footsteps of the Lord – even to his own cross
Reflections on the readings for the Feast of St. Andrew (November 30, 2018): ROM 10:9-18; PS 19:8,9,10,11; MT 4:18-22
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
On this day as we honor St. Andrew, we recall the Apostle that the Eastern Church has long known as the “first-called.”
He had been a disciple of St. John the Baptist. Along with his brother Peter, he left his previous life as a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee to follow Jesus. But, unlike Peter, Andrew is only mentioned a few times in the Gospels. Nonetheless, it is easy to see his strong desire to serve God and to persevere in living and sharing the Way of Christ. Like the other Apostles, Andrew set out to preach the message of Jesus. Today’s first reading reminds us that “Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.… Their voice has gone forth to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world” (Romans 10:17-18).
Andrew is believed to have journeyed through Turkey and Greece with the Good News, and finally, to have been martyred in Patras. He is said to have asked for a cross in the form of an ‘X’ because, again like his brother, he did not feel worthy to die on a cross in the same way Christ was. Let us remember St. Andrew as a man who searched for God with hope – and found Him for eternity.
