Feast of Saint Andrew

Romans 10:9-18, Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11, & Matthew 4:18-22

As one of the original Twelve, Andrew deserves a feast day of his own. However, we know very little about what sets him apart from the other eleven. According to the Gospel, we learn that he was Simon Peter’s brother and from Bethsaida, but he later lived with Simon and Simon’s mother-in-law in Capernaum. According to John’s Gospel, he was a disciple of John the Baptist, who introduced him to Jesus as “the Lamb of God.”

After spending the afternoon with Jesus, Andrew told his brother that he had met the Messiah. That last note about announcing the news of Jesus as Messiah underscores his function as an “evangelist” or one who shares news about Jesus. The first reading for his feast, from Paul to the Romans, about the necessity of verbally sharing one’s faith understanding of Jesus is to be spread the Gospel among all humanity.

Along with his brother apostles, Saint Andrew was called to follow and be with Jesus. If talking with others about Jesus seems odd and unnatural to us, it may be that we have skipped the following and being with Jesus part. I understand part of discipleship occurs in some obvious ways—pondering Jesus’ life and teaching in Sacred Scripture, praying about and to Jesus as our Risen Lord, and hanging out with others who are motivated by their following of Jesus.

For Catholics, that means we gather for Eucharist at least during during the Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass each week. we must also partake in the Sacrament of Reconciliation from time to time. The sense of getting to know Jesus through reflecting on Scripture, prayer, and living the sacramental life as we meet with other kindred spirits, especially our family members, to pray and discuss our efforts to live our faith daily in our lives. When these ways of following and being with Jesus begin to focus our energies in serving others in Jesus’ name, others seeking what they sense we have, will ask what keeps us happy, loving, and hopeful. Then, how we answer will flow naturally from our experience of following Jesus. Some people call that kind of conversation “the new evangelization.” When you think about it, original evangelization was practiced by Andrew and his brother Simon, by the other eight apostles, by the seventy-two, by the five hundred, Paul, and all the rest, each in their way.

Saint Andrew suffered martyrdom at Patras in Achaia, and according to ancient authorities, he died by crucifixion on a cross in the form of an X. He is the patron saint of fishermen.

Question of the Day: How will you become a member of the “new evangelization?”

Prayer: Lord, You raised Saint Andrew, Your Apostle, to preach and rule in Your Church. Grant that we may always experience the benefit of his intercession with You. Amen.