As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.
The peace of the Lord be with you. Both readings on this feast of Saint Andrew focus on the call of Jesus. Acknowledgement of this call is the basis for belief — and belief informs our actions. Our actions and belief allow the graces of God to flow into and through our lives. These graces enrich the soil of our being which makes our lives fertile places where acts of love and charity can prevail in His name.
So may this season of Advent be a time where we renew our commitment to this call, remove those unhealthy distractions and ready our souls for the birth of Emmanuel… God with us.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.