HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF SAINT ANDREW, THE APOSTLE – THURSDAY 34TH WEEK – YEAR A
THEME: And they left their nets at once and followed him.
By: Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA
READINGS OF THE DAY
Romans 10:9-18
Psalm 18:2-5
Matthew 4:18-22
LITURGICAL COLOUR
RED
INTRODUCTION
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the feast of St. Andrew, apostle and martyr. A well known fisherman from Bethsaida and brother of Simon Peter, St. Andrew is said to have spread Christianity in Russia and Asia minor after Pentecost in the first century. He was crucified by the Romans in Greece on an X-shaped cross, which is now his distinctive symbol as well as the symbol of Scotland, of which he is the patron Saint.
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FROM OUR FIRST READING
In our first reading, Paul declares that ‘faith comes from what is preached, and what is preached comes from the word of God’. Good preaching is rooted in God’s word and nurtures faith. The preacher needs to be a good listener to God’s word if his or her preaching is to generate and nurture faith. As Christians, we recognize the New Testament as the privileged place where we hear God’s word. The Lord speaks to us through the inspired writings of what has come to be known as the New Testament.
FROM OUR RESPONSORIAL PSALM
According to today’s responsorial psalm, the heavens proclaim the glory of God, as does the firmament; day unto day takes up the story; night unto night makes known the message. The Lord’s glory, story, message can be heard in all of life, if we have ears to hear.
FROM OUR GOSPEL READING
In the gospel reading, Peter and Andrew, James and John, hear the Lord’s word as they engage in their daily work as fishermen. It was while they were casting or mending their nets that they heard the Lord’s call to become his followers. The Lord speaks to us all from within the heart of our daily experience. What we might think of as purely secular activities can have a truly sacred quality. Our attentiveness to the Lord’s word in the Scriptures can make us more attuned to the many ways he communicates with us in the bits and pieces of life.
CONCLUSION
Let us all be reminded that Saint Andrew himself was also a poor and illiterate fisherman of the Lake of Galilee, who was not expected to do great things in life. Yet, God made him to be a great servant and man, whose contributions and works led to the salvation of so many souls. We must always be reminded that each and every one of us, be it rich or poor, strong or weak, famous or not, all of us are called to be disciples and followers of the Lord, and in each and every opportunities that God has given us, we must always make good use of all the graces and blessings which God has granted to us. We must never take what we have been blessed for granted, and we must do our part as Christians, so that by our lives, the Lord may be glorified at all times. Let us allow the Lord to lead our path in life, and transform our works to be truly worthy of those whom He has called and chosen.
Saint Andrew, Apostle and Disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ, intercede for us always.
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