The Feast of St. Andrew, an Apostle of Jesus Christ

 

The wisdom of catching men is preaching Jesus Christ.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, the Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle, Thursday 30th November, 2023
Texts: Romans 10:9-18; Psalm 19:2-5; Matthew 4:18-22 

We celebrate, today, the feast of St. Andrew, an apostle of Jesus Christ. Today’s gospel reading relates how Jesus called him. Jesus Christ said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." The call of St. Andrew opens door to the salvation of many. In today’s first reading St. Paul says, “But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent?”  

The call of St. Andrew is a blessing to humanity, for we now have a person to tell us about God. It is through hearing about Him that we have faith in Him. St. Paul puts it thus: “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.” With the call of St. Andrew, we no longer have excuse for not being saved. Hence, St. Paul says, “But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." 

The wisdom of catching men is preaching Jesus Christ

St. Andrew was to follow Jesus, for from Him he would learn the wisdom to catch men. The wisdom of catching men is preaching Jesus Christ. Being called is to preach Christ. The first man he caught was his brother, Simon Peter, the first Pope. St. John tells us about it: “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus” (1:40-42).  

St. Andrew also led to Jesus Christ some Greeks who were looking for Him. In the words of St. John: “Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. ... Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus” (12:20,22). He also brought to Jesus the boy who provided the bread and fish to feed five thousand men. St. John says, “One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 'There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish’” (6:8-9). St. Andrew no longer catches fish but men. 

Prayer 

We humbly implore your majesty, O Lord, that, just as the blessed Apostle Andrew was for your Church a preacher and pastor, so he may be for us a constant intercessor before you. Amen 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke