Gospel: November 30, 2024
November 30, 2024 (Saturday)
Feast of St. Andrew, the Apostle
Psalter: Proper / (Red)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 19: 8, 9, 10, 11
The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
1st Reading: Romans 10: 9-18
Gospel: Matthew 4: 18-22
As Jesus walked by the lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come, follow me; and I will make you fish for people.”
At once they left their nets and followed him. He went on from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them.
At once, they left the boat, and their father, and followed him.
Reflection:
“Come, follow me.”
Today’s Gospel, from Matthew, follows the Markan tradition. Jesus called them, and they left their nets. There are other accounts which tell more of Andrew: he is the apostle who told Jesus of the boy with barley loaves (Jn 6:8-9), he commented on the massive walls supporting the temple (Mk 13:1-4), and he served as the bridge between the Jewish and Greek followers of Jesus (Jn 12:20-26). Nonetheless, what seems to be not given too much attention to is the fact that Andrew was the protokletos, he is the one “first called.” He is the one who even led Peter his brother to Jesus (cf. Jn 1:40). He served as the bridge between his brother and the Lord. We have already pointed out that he also served as the bridge between the Jewish and the Gentile believers. Furthermore, we may reflect on the fact that we can only serve well as a bridge when we remain in Jesus’ love. The greatest challenge posed to us now as Jesus’ disciples is to bridge the love of Jesus and the way we live our life, participating in the creation of a culture characterized by social love.
