Today, is St. Andrew's Day, a festivity celebrated in a solemn way amongst Eastern Orthodox Christians. In the first three gospels Andrew is not mentioned except in lists of the Twelve. But in John’s gospel he appears three times, and in each case he is introducing other people to Jesus! First of all, his brother, Simon Peter. Then in John 6:8 he is bringing forward a boy with five loaves and two fish. And in Jn 12:20-22 he is bringing some Greeks to Jesus.
In John’s gospel, Jesus first called this same Andrew, and Andrew introduced his brother Simon (Peter) to Jesus (1:40). And when Jesus invited them to follow him they leave everything and follow him “at once. When Jesus calls we cannot tell Jesus: “afterwards”, “later on”, “I'm busy now”... To be a follower of Christ entails "leaving our nets" — liberating ourselves from material attachments, comfort zones, anything that hinders us from following Jesus completely and unconditionally.
Apostleship means being sent forth to do whatever God calls us to do. Jesus called the Apostles to take his message to all the world. Today's first reading describes the need to take the message out! It starts in the home. Jesus first told his disciples to go to the lost sheep of Israel. We could be the best evangelizers in the world or the best at what we're gifted to do, but if we can't bring Jesus to our families, something's wrong. Being good apostles and terrific evangelizers does not mean that we're going to be successful at changing the hearts and minds of family members. "Not everyone has heeded the good news." But it's at home where we learn to love others unconditionally. It's at home where we become good at forgiving. And it's at home where we're tested and strengthened in serving others with joy. Fulfilling our vocation of joy in the home is more about what we do than what we say. How well do we imitate Jesus when we're with family?
Ask the Lord to be effective evangelizers at home and outside on this feast of St.Andrew.
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