The One Who Brings Others to Jesus

November 30, 2024 - Saturday, Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle

Matthew 4:18-22

Today, the Gospel of Matthew tells us about the call of the first disciples. Until that moment, Jesus was alone; from now on, He will always be in the company of His disciples. With their call, Jesus begins to establish a new Israel that will bring the light of the Gospel to the whole world. They are called to be "fishers of people," tasked with recruiting others for God's kingdom. Although four ordinary fishermen might not seem like a force capable of transforming the world, their calling reflects the meaning of the parable of the mustard seed (Matt. 13:31-32): the small beginnings of God's kingdom lead to the renewal of the entire world.

Today, the universal Church celebrates the feast of Saint Andrew, one of those called by Jesus, so let us focus our attention on him. In John’s Gospel, Andrew is a disciple of John the Baptist, and upon hearing the Baptist's testimony about Jesus—"This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world"—he follows Christ. Together with John the Evangelist, Andrew spent the whole day with Christ, and the first thing he did afterward was to find his brother Peter and announce to him the Good News: "We have found the Messiah" (John 1:35-41). The One about whom the entire Old Testament speaks and the entire world had been waiting for finally appeared on earth. "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).

But Andrew did not just tell Peter the Good News; he also brought Peter to Jesus (John 1:42), and this quality is worth noting. Each time Andrew is mentioned in John’s Gospel, he is bringing someone to Christ: his brother, the boy with five loaves and two fish, and the Greeks who wanted to see Jesus (6:8-9; 12:22). This is a beautiful testimony of him. No one can foresee, when they bring someone to Jesus, what Jesus will make of that person. Peter became the leader among the apostles, the small offering of the boy led to the miraculous multiplication of bread, and by mentioning the Greeks' desire to see Jesus, Andrew prepared us for the mission of the Church to the Gentiles after Christ’s resurrection.

What happened to Saint Andrew after Jesus’ resurrection remains uncertain. According to ancient Christian tradition, he preached the Gospel in the regions around the Black Sea and even traveled as far as Kiev, in present-day Ukraine. It is said that he was crucified in the Greek city of Patras in 60 AD, but as an act of humility, he asked to be fastened to a different type of cross. Thus, we see icons of St. Andrew holding a cross in the shape of the letter X. Saint Andrew is the patron saint of fishermen and of those seeking to marry.

Let us conclude this reflection with a prayer:

O Glorious Saint Andrew,

you were the first to recognize and follow the Lamb of God.

With your friend Saint John, you remained

with Jesus on that first day,

for your entire life, and now throughout eternity.

As you led your brother Saint Peter to Christ and many others after him,

draw us also to Him.

Teach us to lead others to Christ solely out of love for Him

and dedication to His service.

Help us to learn the lesson of the Cross

and to carry our daily crosses without complaint,

so that they may carry us to Jesus. Amen.