Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle
Today’s Gospel: Matthew 4:18-22 (see the READINGS button in the app)
He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. St. Andrew, along with his brother Peter, followed Jesus at once. At once. The Apostle Andrew responded immediately to the invitation of Jesus Christ, and in so doing he teaches us to follow Jesus with promptness. He didn’t wait, he didn’t put the nets away, he didn’t take time to say goodbye to his family, he just followed Jesus.
In his promptness in following Jesus, St. Andrew shows us plainly that the Christian life is about a personal encounter with the one who loves us more than life itself. This encounter is meant to transform us, to change us , to make us into people in love with Jesus Christ. Advent is a time to follow our beloved Jesus with a readiness born of faith, a readiness born of watching and waiting for the coming of the Lord.
Copyright Fr. Scott Nolan
Fr. Scott Nolan is a priest of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, MI. He currently serves in the city of Grand Rapids as the Associate Pastor of the Basilica of St. Adalbert, St. James Church, and St. Mary parish. He is also the chaplain of West Catholic High School.