Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Advent Daily Dose - 1st Wednesday

[The Feast of St. Andrew]

We pray + in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (4:18-22)

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 are 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 Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Lord!

Reflection: St. Andrew, along with his brother Simon Peter, was the first of the apostles called by Jesus. What strikes me most about his calling is that Matthew says they left their nets at once. And then when Jesus calls James and John, they left their nets immediately. What did they see in Jesus's face, or hear in his voice that caused them to drop everything, right there on the spot, and follow Jesus?  Or, what was it in their hearts that connected with this man who now called them? Was there something simmering in the heart of Andrew, Peter, James and John that boiled over when they encountered Jesus?
Do I hear Jesus calling me everyday to follow him? Am I following him as closely as possible or is their junk in the way? What do I need to do, what do I need to leave at once, what do I need to drop immediately if I'm going to follow Him more closely?

We pray: We humbly implore your majesty, O Lord, that, just as the blessed Apostle Andrew was for your Church a preacher and pastor, so he may be for us a constant intercessor before you. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

St. Andrew, pray for us. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us.

In the name + of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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