Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle
"At once they left their nets and followed him." These words stood out to me and in many ways convicted me. Their resolute immediacy in Peter and Andrew is not something I always have in my life. I can often be a person that drags my feet or overthinks the implications of one course of action over another. But they heard Jesus' voice and heeded it! Our secret I think lies in the prior readings.
In the Psalm, we find beautiful words spoken about the Word of God. I have rarely felt the same affection for decrees and commands. Rather I was the kid who ignored the Odyssey while reading the Illiad because the former was assigned reading and the latter wasn't. I can be a good rule follower sometimes, but at others, I bristle under them. And yet, here is a gorgeous Psalm extolling having God's direction in our life. We should love the insights, guidance, and wisdom we gain by having access to God's word. Even God's commands, decrees, and rules.
When we live a life that takes pleasure in God's word, we will recognize his voice when we hear it. That is what I think happened to Peter and Andrew. They innately knew God's voice was calling them and they heeded it. They heeded it and it led them to lend the voices to the spreading of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
May we fall a little more in love with God's word today. Accepting with gratitude the guidance God has given us and always having our ears attuned for his voice.
-Spencer Hargadon