HOMILY OF 34TH SATURDAY IN ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: “COME AND YOU WILL SEE.”
BY: Fr. Mike Lagrimas
Matthew 4:18–22 Feast of St. Andrew, the Apostle
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.
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St. Andrew is one of the apostles of Jesus. He and his brother, Simon Peter, were fishermen from Bethsaida, a town by the Sea of Galilee. The Gospel today is Matthew’s account of the calling of the first four disciples. But the Gospel of John points out that Andrew was initially a disciple of John the Baptist. When it was pointed out by John the Baptist that Jesus is the Lamb of God, he, together with John, the beloved disciple, immediately followed Jesus. When they asked the Lord where he is staying, He invited them: “Come and you will see.” They spent the day with Jesus. That same evening, Andrew “first found his own brother Simon and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah’, which is translated Anointed. And he led him to Jesusʺ (Jn 1:41‐42).
Andrew is mentioned several times in the Gospels. It was he who told Jesus about the boy with the loaves and fishes (Jn 6:8). When some Greeks wanted to see Jesus, Philip sought out Andrew first before they went to tell Him about the request (Jn 12:20-22). Aside from being present at the Last Supper, Andrew was also one of the four disciples who came to Jesus on the Mount of Olives to ask about the signs of the Lord’s return at the end of the age (Mk 13:3).
Andrew preached the Gospel in Greece, and died a martyr. At his own request, he was crucified on an X‐ shaped cross, as he deemed himself unworthy to be crucified on the same type of cross as Jesus had been. It is said that when he saw the cross, he exclaimed, ʺO good Cross, made beautiful by the Body of the Lord: long have I desired you, ardently have I loved you, unceasingly have I sought you out; and now you are ready for my eager soul. Receive me from among men and restore me to my Master, so that He – who, by means of you, in dying redeemed me – may by you receive me.”
We may describe the Apostle Andrew with this one statement: “He was quick.” In the first place, he was quick to believe. John the Baptist pointed out, “Look, there is the Lamb of God!” Immediately, without a moment’s hesitation, he left his master and followed Jesus. This is why the Byzantine Church honors him with the name ‘Protokletos’, which means “the first called”.
He was also quick to spread the good news about Jesus, first to his brother, Simon Peter, then to the rest of the world. Among the apostles, he is the first missionary, especially since he was the instrument used by God to call his brother, Simon. It was Andrew who brought him to Jesus. And looking at Simon, the Lord said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called ‘Cephas’ (which is translated Peter)” (Jn 1:42).
And finally, Andrew was quick to leave everything behind in order to follow Jesus and offer his life for the sake of the Kingdom. He completely detached himself, not only from material possessions and all worldly things, but also his own life. He did so very promptly and resolutely up to the last moment of his life.
The example of the Apostle Andrew should inspire us to be always quick for the Lord. Every day, Jesus calls us to follow Him. We should not dilly-dally in our response. Every day He sends us to share His Gospel to other people. We should not be shy or hesitant when it comes to spreading God’s Word. Every day Jesus challenges us to let go of everything for the sake of the Kingdom. We should not let our attachments to worldly things slow us down in our journey to eternal life.
If it is for the Lord, we must be quick, for, as an American priest and author, Fr. Mike Schmitz, said, “If you aren’t changing your schedule to follow Jesus, you are NOT a disciple of Jesus.”
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