In the Gospel on today’s feast of St. Andrew, Jesus calls Peter and Andrew from their fishing and invites them to be fishers of men. And, amazingly, they say “yes”. What was it about Christ that was so compelling that they would put aside the urgent task of earning their daily bread and focus instead on his message? Perhaps it was a depth of peace they saw in him that they yearned for themselves. Or a confidence so inspiring that, as Paul says in today’s epistle, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.”
Jesus’ message of peace, unity, equality and love must have spoken to the heart’s core of an oppressed people, searching for a savior. How privileged the apostles were to know Christ and to become the instruments of his mission, to play their part in salvation history. And now…it’s our turn.
How can people call on Christ in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And who will bring the message to them in word and deed? As Michael Jackson sang, “I’m startin’ with the man in the mirror.”
It’s up to each of us to pick up the mantel of St. Andrew and others and play our part in the great enterprise which is the bringing about of the Kingdom of God.
WE are the “someone”!
—Pam Coster is Executive Director of Charis Ministries. Founded in 2000, Charis Ministries reaches those in their 20s and 30s nationwide, nurturing their faith through retreats based in Ignatian spirituality. www.charisministries.org