THURSDAY OF THE THIRTY FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (Year I)
ST ANDREW AP. (Feast) Red
He was a brother to Peter and a disciple of John the Baptist. He was the first apostle called by Jesus (Jn 1:40). Upon his invitation, he left his net and everything and followed Jesus. His immediate response and commitment to Christ’s invitation leaves us an example. He preached the gospel in what is now modern Greece and Turkey. He was crucified on an X-shaped cross (saltire) at Patras. He preached the gospel from that cross as he hung on it for two days.
First Reading: Rom 10:9-18
Psalm: 19 3. R. v. 5
Gospel: Mt 4:18-22
We may wonder why Jesus would go for the services of fishermen as his apostles. Not one, not two, not even three but four fishermen. Those whom the society would classify as a nobody. Jesus must have seen some qualities in them. Of course fishes are not men. But if these fishermen could catch fishes, then there are some needed skills in them.
Fishermen are patient. They wait patiently until the fish take the bait. If they are impatient, they may never get a catch. Fishermen have perseverance. They are not discouraged when no catch is made. They keep trying again and again. Fishermen are courageous. They are not deterred by the tides and waves of the sea. They take that risk. Fishermen have an eye for the right moment. They know when it is hopeless to fish. When to cast the net and when not to. Fishermen bait the fish to catch the fish. They know what entice fishes and that they use to catch them. Fishermen keep themselves out of sight. Their presence or shadow will scare fishes away, so they avoid that. With these skills, Jesus knew they can do bravely as apostles.
These skills are lessons every preacher must learn. To preach patiently without always expecting immediate conversion.To persevere in trying continuously when conversion seems impossible. To have the courage to face huddles in preaching the gospel fearlessly. To know the right moment to win back the lost. To know and identify with the things that attracts our hearers. To preach Christ and not scare the flock away by preaching ourselves.
Preaching is the task of every Christian. We ought to learn from these skills. St Andrew whom we celebrate today was an ardent preacher. He preached from the X-shaped cross on which he was crucified for two days. It was one of the best periods for him to strikingly impress the faith in the heart of his hearers amidst pain and suffering. And he ceased that moment. We should carry on the faith handed down to us by the apostles. We should never tire in doing this.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord Jesus, we pray for the heart of a true disciple. St Andrew help us to respond wholeheartedly to the Jesus’ invitation to follow him. Amen.
FR VALENTINE EGBUONU, MSP
ST ANDREW AP. (Feast) Red
He was a brother to Peter and a disciple of John the Baptist. He was the first apostle called by Jesus (Jn 1:40). Upon his invitation, he left his net and everything and followed Jesus. His immediate response and commitment to Christ’s invitation leaves us an example. He preached the gospel in what is now modern Greece and Turkey. He was crucified on an X-shaped cross (saltire) at Patras. He preached the gospel from that cross as he hung on it for two days.
First Reading: Rom 10:9-18
Psalm: 19 3. R. v. 5
Gospel: Mt 4:18-22
We may wonder why Jesus would go for the services of fishermen as his apostles. Not one, not two, not even three but four fishermen. Those whom the society would classify as a nobody. Jesus must have seen some qualities in them. Of course fishes are not men. But if these fishermen could catch fishes, then there are some needed skills in them.
Fishermen are patient. They wait patiently until the fish take the bait. If they are impatient, they may never get a catch. Fishermen have perseverance. They are not discouraged when no catch is made. They keep trying again and again. Fishermen are courageous. They are not deterred by the tides and waves of the sea. They take that risk. Fishermen have an eye for the right moment. They know when it is hopeless to fish. When to cast the net and when not to. Fishermen bait the fish to catch the fish. They know what entice fishes and that they use to catch them. Fishermen keep themselves out of sight. Their presence or shadow will scare fishes away, so they avoid that. With these skills, Jesus knew they can do bravely as apostles.
These skills are lessons every preacher must learn. To preach patiently without always expecting immediate conversion.To persevere in trying continuously when conversion seems impossible. To have the courage to face huddles in preaching the gospel fearlessly. To know the right moment to win back the lost. To know and identify with the things that attracts our hearers. To preach Christ and not scare the flock away by preaching ourselves.
Preaching is the task of every Christian. We ought to learn from these skills. St Andrew whom we celebrate today was an ardent preacher. He preached from the X-shaped cross on which he was crucified for two days. It was one of the best periods for him to strikingly impress the faith in the heart of his hearers amidst pain and suffering. And he ceased that moment. We should carry on the faith handed down to us by the apostles. We should never tire in doing this.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord Jesus, we pray for the heart of a true disciple. St Andrew help us to respond wholeheartedly to the Jesus’ invitation to follow him. Amen.
FR VALENTINE EGBUONU, MSP
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