THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Tuesday in the first week of Advent, 2021

Rom 10:9-18

Ps 19

Matt 4:18-22

 Feast of St Andrew Apostle

They left their nets

Dear friends in Christ, the call of God is the ultimate thing in life. For those who are able to discern what that call is, they do not mind to abandon every other thing to answer it. Wherever the call leads, they are willing to follow, because that is the greatest joy of their lives. Today we celebrate St Andrew, one of the Apostles of Jesus. He may have been a disciple of John the Baptist before he met Jesus. He became one of the first followers of Jesus. Stories have it that his bones were brought and buried in Scotland at the place where we have the town of St Andrews now.

The first reading of today (Romans 10:9-18) celebrates the role of the Apostles in the mission of Christ to the world. “For ‘everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.’ But how are men to call upon him, in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him, of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear, without a preacher? And how can men preach, unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!’” As an Apostle, Andrew was called to give everything to the mission to proclaim the good news of salvation, even at the cost of his life, and indeed, he did. As Paul said, without a preacher, no one will hear the word of God, this presents a challenge even to each of us today. We must examine ourselves if we have the kind of beautiful feet, which belongs to those who proclaim the good news. The Bible will remain like any other book on the shelf, unless we internalise it, and live it out. We are called in different ways, to proclaim that word of God, be it as a reader in church, or a preacher, or just by a sincere Christian way of life. How can you go through life as a Christian without making a single convert?

Today’s gospel (Matthew 4:18-22) brings to us the call of Andrew. “As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” One may not just wonder about the fact that God in Jesus needed human beings to achieve his purpose, but we must also praise the response of these men to the call. At a time when they needed to work hard, to fend for their families, they left all that, and followed Jesus. Their faith in him was rewarded, they were numbered among the Apostles, and will sit on thrones and judge the world. What have you to give up for the sake of the gospel? There are people who are too calculative when it comes to their dealings with God. They need the assurance that they will receive more, when they give up what they have already. Andrew is our model of obedience to the will of God.

Let us pray: Lord, give me the will to follow wherever you lead me. Amen

+Remain blessed