Nov. 30th - St. Andrew

 

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Andrew!

St. Andrew was born in Bethsaida in Galilee. When Jesus began His public ministry, Andrew was living with his brother, Peter at Capharnaum, which was an important town on the western shore of the Lake of Genezareth, where the two earned their living as fisherman. They were business partners with the brothers James and John, who would also become followers of Jesus. Before they met Jesus, Andrew and John were disciples of John the Baptist. It was Andrew, who first discovered Jesus and then went to tell his brother Peter, “We have found the Messiah”.

Peter and his brother Andrew must have thought they were having an ordinary day, as they were casting their net into the sea. But on this particular day, Jesus called out to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately, they left their boat, and followed the Lord, and so became disciples and fishers of men.

Later they would learn to “catch men” by preaching about Jesus and His teachings.

St. Paul said, “How can anyone believe in Him if they had not heard about Jesus”. “How can anyone hear without someone to preach?” Therefore, Peter and Andrew went about preaching everywhere, so they could get as many as possible to believe in Jesus, because they knew no one could hear about Him and come to know about Him, unless someone preached about Him.

St. Andrew went about preaching Jesus in the countries of Turkey, Greece and Russia. Andrew was captured in the city of Patras in western Greece. He was imprisoned, and then severely scourged and then was bound to an X shaped cross and from the cross, he preached for two days. Just before his death by Crucifixion, he was enveloped in a great light from heaven, and when the light faded, he gave up his spirit and died. Because he brought the faith to Russia he is venerated as their patron saint.

All of us are called to proclaim the Gospel. Our actions are the strongest proclamation of the Gospel. Who would believe us, if we failed to put into action, what we preached?

The Blessed Virgin Mary was the perfect follower of Jesus, and by Her prayers many have come and will follow Her Divine Son.

On this feast of St. Andrew, let us implore his prayers and with the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary, others will come to know, to believe, to love, and to follow Her Divine Son.