Dec 10

Dec 10 St. Andrew and Advent

“There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter with Christ. There is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him.” Pope Benedict XVI’s words, spoken at his first public Mass as the Holy Father, serve as a testament to the life of St. Andrew and a theme for the liturgical season of Advent.

Three scenes recorded in the Gospel of St. John illumine the generous spirit of St. Andrew. He is introduced as a follower of St. John the Baptist along with an unnamed disciple, presumed to be St. John the future evangelist. In the narrative, the Baptist proclaims Jesus the “Lamb of God” and the two friends immediately begin to follow Him (cf. Jn 1:35-37). The Lord asks Andrew and John what they are seeking and invites them to “come and see” what life with Him is like (Jn 1:38-39). This encounter with Christ is so profound for them that John records the time of day in the text: “it was about the tenth hour” (Jn 1:39). Andrew does not keep this experience to himself, nor his newly found friendship with Christ, but he immediately tells Simon Peter, his brother, “we have found the Messiah” (Jn 1:41). Andrew remains an example for us today. He not only proclaims the good news with words but complements them with action; he takes his brother to meet Jesus (cf. Jn 1:42).

Andrew also introduces someone to Jesus at one of the most significant miracles of Christ’s public ministry. Before the multiplication of loaves and fishes, the apostles note they lack food to satisfy the great crowd (cf. Jn 6:7). Andrew steps forward to bring a young boy with “five barley loaves and two fish” to Christ (Jn 6:9). Jesus takes the small amount offered and abundantly multiplies it to feed the multitude (cf. Jn 6:11-13). Andrew did not know how or what Jesus would do with the boy’s food, but he did know to bring it to Him. It is the same in our own Christian journey. We need to generously give our spiritual gifts, finances, time, in short, everything—even if it seems so little—to Jesus. He can bless it and multiply it for the service and nourishment of others.

The final scene in which we find Andrew mentioned by name is a week before Christ’s Passion (cf. Jn 12:20-26). Several Greeks in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration approach Philip with this plea, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus” (Jn 12:21). Philip, recognizing Andrew’s special role in bringing people to Christ, “told Andrew; Andrew went with Philip and they told Jesus” (Jn 12:22). In this passage, Andrew models how to bring others to Christ. This entreaty of the Greeks symbolizes the cry of the sinful world longing for its Savior. As we anticipate His coming throughout the season of Advent, our prayer should repeat these words: “we wish to see Jesus.”

St. Andrew’s life is celebrated annually on November 30th for it is the day of his martyrdom and entrance into eternal beatitude. Yet it also signals the beginning of Advent, as the first day of the new liturgical year always falls on the closest Sunday to his feast day. What might the Church want to teach us about the Christian life through this connection? The season of Advent is the Church’s invitation for us to be more like Andrew.

We should expect, as the Pope Emeritus said, “to be surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter with Christ.” Whether or not we have been faithful followers of Christ the previous year, Advent is a season of grace to begin again. At the commencement of the Church’s liturgical year we can make a “new year’s resolution” to come to know Christ more deeply by encountering Him in the Gospels. Even the busiest daily schedule can allow five minutes to read from one of the four Gospels.

As we grow in our knowledge of Jesus’ life our friendship with Him will deepen. Andrew spent three years living closely with Christ accompanying Him on his many journeys, listening to His teachings, watching Him pray, and imitating His life. We can live like the disciples through a firm commitment to prayer and a devout participation in the sacramental life. This is the sure way to speed along the path of spiritual intimacy with the Lord.

Finally, the fourth gospel highlights Andrew’s effectiveness in bringing people to meet Jesus. It is not enough to just follow Christ. We need to tell others about Him too. During the Advent season, we liturgically re-live the ancient expectation of Israel and of the world for the coming Messiah. There are many people in our lives who are waiting to meet Christ. They just need someone to introduce them to the One who saves them and loves them. Make a resolution this new liturgical year to ask the Lord, through Andrew’s intercession, who He wants you to introduce to Him. If we take up this challenge, we will discover, what Pope Benedict asserts, that “there is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him.”