We will first look at St. Andrew, the Apostle whose feast day is celebrated on November 30th. On this day we remember the personal call of Andrew by Jesus to spread the good news of salvation. What little we know about St. Andrew is gleamed from the Bible. We know he and his brother were fishermen from Galilee. Andrew is considered the first Apostle of Jesus. He was originally a follower of John the Baptist. When John the Baptist sees Jesus he says: “Behold, the Lamb of God.” Andrew and another disciple of John the Baptist hear this and immediately began to follow Jesus. After spending the day with Jesus, Andrew goes to his brother, tells him “We have found the Messiah” and takes his brother to Jesus. Jesus looks at the brother of Andrew and says, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).”
Later, people begin to follow Jesus after they see him healing the sick. On one occasion there are about five thousand men and uncounted women and children who have followed Jesus. These people were hungry and needed to be feed. After Jesus asked the Apostle Phillip how these people were to be feed, it is Andrew who brings to Jesus a boy with five loaves of bread and two fish. This occasion has become known as the miracle of “The Multiplication of the Loaves”.
It was Andrew who during the Passover Feast brings a group of Greeks (Gentiles) to meet Jesus. This prompts Jesus to remark: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Yes, Jesus will meet the Greeks but not in the way Andrew or the Greeks expect. Jesus will meet all, from Jews and Greeks to those yet to come by his sacrifice on the cross. He will become the bread of life for all generations.
Tradition has it that after Pentecost, Andrew travelled to Greece to spread the teachings of Jesus. It was in Greece where Andrew suffered death by crucifixion. Like his brother Peter, he did not deem himself worthy to die in the same manner as Jesus. Andrew was crucified on a diagonal or X-shaped cross which has become known as St. Andrew's cross.
St. Andrew also plays an important part in our Advent season. Most of us use Catholic calendars, quick Internet searches or wait for the Church to remind us in determining when the Advent season starts. Advent is actually defined as starting with the Sunday nearest to the Feast day of St. Andrew.
In this quick look at St. Andrew we find someone that is always bringing others to Jesus. Andrew introduces St. Peter to Jesus. He brings the boy with food to Jesus. Andrew brings Gentiles to Jesus, showing the salvation Jesus offers is for the whole world. Through his feast day, St. Andrew is bringing us to a chance for a new beginning with the start of the Advent Season.
Begin this Advent season as St. Andrew would. Bring someone to Jesus. Invite people to join you at the Mass. Share a meal with a person who may be eating alone. Listen to someone you consider a “Gentile” but needs your help and understanding? Jesus is calling all of us to be fishers of men. Let St. Andrew be our inspiration as we “abound in love for one another and for all.” (1 Thes 3:12)
