Monday, December 1, 2014

Monday, December 1, 2014  (St Andrew the Apostle)  

John 1: 35 - 42

Today we remember Andrew, who was called by Jesus from a life of fishing in the Sea of Galilee, to a life that had him drawing people to Jesus and his Way. We are told in John's Gospel that he was Simon Peter's brother , and that at the feeding of the five thousand he responded with Phillip in answering some questions posed by Jesus, and on another occasion he also introduced some pagans who wanted to meet Jesus. Other than that, there is nothing more about Andrew in Scripture, although  numerous legends and traditions later developed, including that he was martyred and crucified on an X shaped cross. In time he was adopted as the patron saint of Scotland, hence the X shaped cross on Scotland's flag.

However, the really important thing about Andrew is that in a sense his story can be our story.  Like Andrew, there may not be much that we will be remembered for in years to come, but like Andrew, we too are called by Jesus to move towards lives that take up the Way of Life that Jesus undertook and upheld, lives that reach out to others, and in the process become lives  of blessing and wholeness. 

Archdeacon Ken Cardwell