Have I Brought Anyone to Jesus (Feast of St Andrew, Nov. 30)

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The first reading (cf. Rom. 10:9-18) clearly spells out that “anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord and believes with his heart will be saved”. However, it raises some very important questions: “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 are men to preach if they are not sent?” From all these, it is abundantly clear that faith comes from hearing – hearing the Word of God.

Andrew understood his role as an apostle of Christ; and who is an apostle? An apostle is one who has been sent to preach Christ. Andrew understood this very well, and that was why he went about making Christ known, introducing people to Christ and proclaiming what he believed to others. And in this way, he must have succeeded in building the faith of others. St. John’s gospel account gives us more insight into the life of St Andrew. In Jn. 1:38-39, it is written that it was Andrew who introduced his brother, Peter, to Jesus. In Jn. 6:8-9, in the story of the miracle of the loaves, it is written that it was Andrew who introduced the little boy with five loaves and two fishes to Jesus. In Jn. 12: 21-22, it is also written that it was Andrew together with Philip who introduced some Greeks, who came to worship at the Jewish festival, to Jesus.  

In the gospel account of this feast (cf. Matt. 4:18-22), Jesus tells Peter and Andrew: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers for people”. This is one instruction with two parts: FOLLOW ME & I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS FOR PEOPLE. We have received the same instruction from Jesus right from the moment of our baptism. Before Jesus physically left the earth, He repeated in the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Now, in the instruction given to Peter and Andrew, Jesus did not mean that they should only follow Him just for the sake of following Him. No! He made them understand that the direct consequence of following Him is that they will be made fishers for people.

I ask you, my dear brothers and sisters, and I ask myself: Since we began to follow Jesus (right from the moment of our baptism), how many persons have we brought to Jesus? You may say: “Well, I have not had the opportunity of mounting the pulpit in order to accomplish this.” I am sure we have not forgotten that our lifestyles and attitudes speak louder and more convincing than the words that we utter. Our lives should be a living gospel for people to listen to and read. How many people have I told that Jesus loves and cares? How many people have I helped in whatever way? How many people do I make to smile every day? These are the different ways that we can make Jesus known to people. These are the different ways we can introduce people to Jesus.        




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