Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle

Today's Scripture

Yesterday we began Advent, our four weeks of preparation for Christmas. This is a time of great longing. In the darkness of our world at this time of the year, we long for light. We long for our savior to enter this world in two ways – both as an infant born in Bethlehem, and, again, as our King and Judge at the end of time. At this beginning of the liturgical year, we contemplate the end of our time on earth, as well as the beginning of Jesus’ time on earth. Our readings in the coming weeks will reflect this imagery of longing for our Savior and Redeemer. Much of the rest of our country will skip this period of waiting and make it seem as though Christmas has already come. But, as Lent helps us to appreciate Easter, so Advent helps us to appreciate Christmas. We need to pine for Jesus in order to celebrate fully the mystery of Christmas.

Today we celebrate the feast of one of the 12 apostles of the Church. Our gospel reading features the call story of St. Andrew, along with his brother Peter and also James and John. Andrew appears only a few times in the gospel stories, but is an important figure nonetheless. The gospel of John describes Andrew as bringing his brother to Jesus, after telling Peter that they have found the Messiah (Jn 1:40-42). Today’s passage from Matthew simply depicts Andrew as willing to follow Jesus, despite the cost of leaving behind his livelihood of fishing.

In many ways, Andrew is simply an ordinary person. But he was transformed in his decision to follow Jesus. In becoming a disciple, he learned from his master how to be like his master. In other words, he learned from Jesus how to become like Jesus. And we honor him today as an apostle who, like Jesus, worked to bring the good news to others, just as he first brought the good news of the Messiah to his brother Peter.

Our first reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans cites the noteworthy words: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!” (Rom 10:15). As an apostle, Andrew had his feet washed by Jesus at the last supper. And as an apostle, Andrew used his feet to carry the good news – first of Jesus’ life, and then of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

During this time of Advent longing, we may observe the restlessness of those who long in one form or another. Particularly in this season, those who are longing may turn to material things, the things of this world, to satisfy their desires. But what we all truly seek is the news that Andrew brings to us – the good news of a God who comes to us as an innocent babe in a manger, grows into a man who serves us, dies sacrificing his life for us, and rises from the dead, defeating death, so that he may come again at the end of time to reign as our king. 

We are called to recognize our longing for Christ, and, like Andrew, we are called to bring the good news of Christ to the world. As we celebrate this feast today, let us pray that St. Andrew may intercede for us, helping us to turn our hearts toward the two comings of Christ that we long for during this Advent season. And in longing for Christ, may we also help bring the good news that our hope will, in the end, be answered!

- Maria Morrow