Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle
One of the most difficult things I have had to do this year is watch my son move out a go to college. For those who know me there are fewer people I am close to in the world than my son. He is at the University of Dayton and not far from home, still following his dream meant leaving home. It also meant leaving the safety of home and everything he has known to begin walking on a new journey.
The Lord invites us into new journey’s in many different ways. For my son, it was college this year. For a patient I was with recently meant walking a new path without their spouse. New beginnings often come about as result of a transition or a loss we must work through. It could mean discovering a best friend or finding and adopting a pet, or perhaps needing to begin a new career or feeling called to a new ministry
Advent is the beginning of the new liturgical year. In this new beginning, we are following the Lord on a journey in which we well call upon the Lord’s name and prepare a place in our hearts and homes for him. However it is not only an inward journey, as St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!” Thus preparing a place means not only for ourselves, but inviting others to do the same.
For St. Andrew, whose feast we celebrate this day, leaving home and following the Lord meant leaving everything he had known behind. Getting out of the safety of the boat in which he had spent his life invited Andrew to walk a new journey with the Lord.
Lord as we enter into this new Holy Year, give us the courage to be like Andrew and honor your invitation to get out of our life boat and follow You Lord. Place upon our hearts a zeal to live what we believe so that we may be the encounter with Christ that will invite others to follow Your Son who lives and reigns one God, forever and ever. Amen.
-Deacon Michael Montgomery