Feast of Saint
Andrew, apostle
(Romans 10:9-18; Matthew 4:18-22)
Unlike other teachers of his time Jesus called a group of
disciples to him. Other teachers waited
for men to come and study Torah with them, but Jesus is pro-active. As we hear in the first reading and see in
the gospel, Jesus searches out followers.
Peter and Andrew are the first of many disciples from whom Jesus will
select twelve for a special mission.
Jesus is responding to the call of God to inaugurate the
kingdom in the world. It is to be a rule
of justice where goodness is blessed and evil rooted out. The new order takes effect as Jesus heals the
sick, casts out evil demons, and preaches the will of God. Andrew, Peter, and the other apostles will assume
these ministries when Jesus leaves. They
will receive the Holy Spirit to spread God’s kingdom of justice and love throughout
the world.
We may not have been called to be apostles, but all of us
are Jesus’ disciples. We study the Christian
Torah, actually the whole Bible, with emphasis on Jesus in the gospels. We are also sent out to the world to give
witness to God’s kingdom. By living
righteously, by praying continuously, and by treating others with love, we fortify
the kingdom’s foundations.
