Nov. 30: ST. ANDREW, THE APOSTLE. Short bio and reading.

SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Dear brethren in Christ, Happy Feast of St. Andrew. Born at Bethsaida, he was a disciple of John the Baptist before he became a follower of Christ. He is a man who longed for the Coming of the Messiah. He is characterized by his promptness to follow Christ and his zeal to bring souls to him, such that he was the instrument God chose to introduce to Jesus  his brother, Peter, who later will be chosen by Christ to be the Prince of the Apostles and the Rock (Cephas=Petrus=Rock) of His Church.

With Philip he presented the Gentiles to Christ. Before the miracle in the desert, he pointed out to Christ the boy carrying the loaves and fishes. It is said that St. Andrew preached along the Black Sea and the Dnieper and Volga rivers as far as Kiev and Novgorod. Hence he became a patron saint of Ukraine, Romania and Russia. According to tradition, he founded the See of Byzantium, Constantinople, in AD 38. He was put to death by crucifixion at Achaia.

Let us ask St. Andrew to we would always be prompt to follow Christ and imitate his apostolic zeal to gain souls for God.

Below you have the 2nd reading of today’ Divine Office which is worth the read and meditation.

St. Andrew, pray for us!

-Fr. Rolly Arjonillo. Cordially inviting you to like our FB page and share our posts to help more people in their Catholic faith and life. Thanks and God bless!

+++READING STARTS HERE+++

A sermon of St John Chrysostom on St John’s gospel
We have found the Messiah

After Andrew had stayed with Jesus and had learned much from him, he did not keep this treasure to himself, but hastened to share it with his brother. Notice what Andrew said to him: We have found the Messiah, that is to say, the Christ. Notice how his words reveal what he has learned in so short a time. They show the power of the master who has convinced them of this truth. They reveal the zeal and concern of men preoccupied with this question from the very beginning. Andrew’s words reveal a soul waiting with the utmost longing for the coming of the Messiah, looking forward to his appearing from heaven, rejoicing when he does appear, and hastening to announce so great an event to others. To support one another in the things of the spirit is the true sign of good will between brothers, of loving kinship and sincere affection.

Notice, too, how, even from the beginning, Peter is docile and receptive in spirit. He hastens to Jesus without delay. He brought him to Jesus, says the evangelist. But Peter must not be condemned for his readiness to accept Andrew’s word without much weighing of it. It is probable that his brother had given him, and many others, a careful account of the event; the evangelists, in the interest of brevity, regularly summarise a lengthy narrative. Saint John does not say that Peter believed immediately, but that he brought him to Jesus. Andrew was to hand him over to Jesus, to learn everything for himself. There was also another disciple present, and he hastened with them for the same purpose.

When John the Baptist said: This is the Lamb, and he baptizes in the Spirit, he left the deeper understanding of these things to be received from Christ. All the more so would Andrew act in the same way, since he did not think himself able to give a complete explanation. He brought his brother to the very source of light, and Peter was so joyful and eager that he would not delay even for a moment.

℟. Immediately Andrew heard the Lord preaching, he left the nets by which he earned his living* and followed the giver of eternal life.

℣. Andrew endured his suffering for love of Christ and his law,* and followed the giver of eternal life.

Let us pray. We humbly implore your majesty, O Lord, that just as the blessed Apostle Andrew was for your Church a preacher and pastor, so he may be for us a constant intercessor before you. Through our Lord.