Daily Catholic Lectio. Sat, 30 November ’24. First disciple

Daily Catholic Lectio

Sat, 30 November ‘24

XXXIV Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday

Apostle Saint Andrew, Feast

Romans 10:9-18. Matthew 4:18-22

First disciple

Today, we joyfully celebrate the feast of Saint Andrew, the Apostle. In Scripture and Tradition, Andrew is known as the brother of Saint Peter (cf. John 1:40). His name, derived from the Greek words aner and andros, means “man” and “strength.”

In the Eastern Churches, Saint Andrew is honoured as the “first-called,” for according to the Gospel of John, he was the first disciple called by Jesus (cf. John 1:35-40). Before following Christ, he was a disciple of John the Baptist. Tradition tells us that he was martyred on an X-shaped cross, and he is now venerated as the patron saint of Scotland and many other nations.

In the first reading (cf. Romans 10:9-18), Saint Paul reminds us of the power of preaching in leading people to faith. Faith grows through hearing the Word of God, and the apostles became a vital bridge connecting God to His people. Their first proclamation still resonates across the globe, inspiring believers.

The Gospel recounts how Andrew and Peter were called by Jesus while they were busy with their daily work as fishermen. Yet, when Jesus invited them, they immediately left everything to follow Him (cf. Matthew 4:18-22), responding with a wholehearted and decisive “yes.”

The Gospel of John portrays Andrew as someone who brings people to Jesus. He brought his brother Peter to meet the Lord (cf. John 1:41-42), introduced the boy with five loaves to Jesus (cf. John 6:8-9), and later brought Greeks seeking Him (cf. John 12:20-22). Before the resurrection, Andrew led others to Jesus; after the resurrection, he carried Jesus to the world. In this way, he fulfilled the twofold mission of an apostle.

The Responsorial Psalm (cf. Psalm 19:1-4) beautifully proclaims, “Their message goes out to all the earth.” Like Saint Andrew, we are called to proclaim Christ through our words and deeds. Yet, we often lose sight of our baptismal calling. Let us renew our encounter with God so that it becomes the foundation for our mission, proclaiming Him to the ends of the earth.

Three takeaways from Andrew:

(a) Be quick to respond to God’s call: When Jesus called Andrew and Peter, they immediately left their nets and followed Him (cf. Matthew 4:20). Andrew’s readiness teaches us to trust God and respond promptly to His invitations in our lives, even when it requires sacrifice or change.

(b) Be a bridge to Jesus: Andrew consistently brought people to Jesus: his brother Peter (cf. John 1:41-42), the boy with five loaves and two fish (cf. John 6:8-9), and the Greeks seeking to meet Jesus (cf. John 12:20-22). He reminds us to use our relationships and opportunities to guide others to Christ, trusting that even small acts of faith can lead to great miracles.

(c) Trust in the power of small beginnings: When Andrew brought the boy with five loaves and two fish to Jesus, he might not have fully understood how such a small offering could help, but he trusted Jesus to work with what was available (cf. John 6:8-9). This teaches us that no effort is too small when offered to God. He can multiply our humble contributions to achieve extraordinary results.

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The ‘pilgrims of hope’ serve as bridges between God and people (Jubilee 2025 AD, bite 262).

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy