Tuesday, December 1, 2015

11/30/2015 – Memorial of St Andrew – Matthew 4:18-22, Romans 10:9-18

         Today, we celebrate the memorial of St Andrew, one of the 12 apostles.  This year, the feast of St Andrew happens to fall on Monday of the first week of the holy season of Advent, our time of preparation before Christmas.  Like many of the apostles, the Gospel does not go into many details about Andrew.  Today’s reading from Matthew tells us that Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter, that he was called to be a disciple out of the everyday reality of his life while he and his brother were fishing and casting their nets into the sea.  Jesus called Simon Peter and Andrew to follow him as his disciples.  They were amongst his first followers.  These two brothers immediately put down their nets and followed Jesus unconditionally.  After Jesus’ death and resurrection, all of the apostles were dispersed throughout the world to bring Christ’s Gospel to others.  Tradition has it that Andrew brought the Gospel to the people of Turkey and Greece, where Andrew gave his life as a martyr as his continued Christ’s ministry and teachings.  As we think about all the problems that have afflicted Greece and Turkey in recent years, with Greece going through a debt crisis and struggling to hold together the very framework of its society, and Turkey being embroiled in the a conflict with Russia and all the problems going on in the Middle East, we call upon Andrew to lead and guide these countries as they confront these immense challenges, challenges that have profound affects on the rest of the world.
         In his letter to the Romans, Paul tells us how important it is for us to share our faith with others, to continue the work of Christ here on earth by preaching the Gospel.  Paul tells us that it does not matter if we are Jew or Greek.  No matter what our status in life, Christ Gospel is open to us.  
         As we start the holy season of Advent, as we hear of the witness of Andrew the Apostle, may we the responsibility each one of us has in living out  the Gospel message in the world.  As part of our Advent practices, may we find new and different ways that we can help Jesus and his apostles in their mission.  May we honor the work of Andrew and the other apostles by keeping that work alive. 



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