Reflection
Romans 10: 9-18
Psalm 19
Matthew 4: 18-22
Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Andrew, one of the Apostles. St. Andrew was just hanging around the seashore when Jesus walked up and called St. Andrew and St. Peter to join Him as fishers of men. Andrew and Peter dropped everything and left their father Zebedee to manage the business, meaning he had to provide for the families. Ok, it probably was not exactly that way.
In the gospel according to John, Andrew is described as having been a disciple of John the Baptist. During Advent we hear the gospel passage from Mark that describes John the Baptist as preaching as “…the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord,” by calling people to repentance as the Messiah is now arriving. That being the case, Andrew was extremely well taught to be prepared to leave everything behind and follow the Messiah.
We hear smatterings about Andrew throughout the gospel versions, but it is the impact he had after Jesus ascended that reflect how he listened to the direction of Jesus. Andrew went on mission to Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, and the country of Georgia. He was crucified a martyr on a cross shaped as an “X”, the saltire cross. The flag of Scotland bares this saltire cross.
During Advent, we pray the Novena to St. Andrew beginning today, November 30 and going through Christmas Day. It is a beautifully reflective novena, I encourage you to find it online in many places including https://www.praymorenovenas.com/st-andrew-christmas-novena.
Smile at God today!!