[Salvation]

Christian Vocation

 

by Food For Thought on November 30, 2012 · 

Reading 1 Rom 10:9-18

Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11

Gospel Mt 4:18-22

Andrew was called to a specialized vocation within the Church, which Christ was to establish. A presupposition of Andrew’s call, however, was the more generic but more basic call to the “Way” of life established by Christ, to which all Christians are called. It’s important to realize this. There’s nothing special about a call to the priesthood or religious life. It’s not a call to a position of greater honor or privilege. It’s not a call to a life of deeper intimacy or friendship with Christ. It’s special only in the sense that fewer people are called to this way of life. Unfortunately, the tendency within the Church has been to set priests and religious apart, to put them on pedestals, all of which Christ warned against in the Gospel.

The important thing in life, after all, is not to be a priest or religious or a married person or a single person. The important thing for us is to fully live each day the life which God has individually called us to.

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

 

<< Friday, November 30, 2012 >>

St. Andrew

Romans 10:9-18
View Readings

Psalm 19:8-11

Matthew 4:18-22

THE LEFT-OUT CAN REACH OUT

Jesus "watched two brothers, Simon now known as Peter, and his brother Andrew." —Matthew 4:18

 

Andrew was one of the first two disciples to follow Jesus (Jn 1:40). Andrew even led his brother, Simon Peter, to Jesus (Jn 1:41). Andrew, with Peter, James, and John, was called by Jesus to become a fisher of men (Mt 4:19).

However, Andrew's prominence did not continue. Jesus did not include Andrew in His inner circle of apostles. Only Peter, James, and John were included at the raising of Jairus' daughter from the dead (Mk 5:37), the Transfiguration (Mk 9:2), and the agony in the garden of Gethsemani (Mt 26:37). Andrew was conspicuously not invited.

What do you do when you're number four in a threesome, the fourth leg for a tripod, or the fourth "member" of a trio? Most people respond to being left out by jealousy, unforgiveness, and/or self-pity. Andrew responded by persevering in his original commitment. He continued to abandon everything to be a fisher of men. He became the "designated evangelist" among the apostles. When several Greeks asked Philip to take them to Jesus, Philip took them to Andrew to take them to Jesus (Jn 12:21-22).

When you're left out, reach out. Share your love for Jesus, Who has been left out and rejected throughout His life on earth, even to the present day. He was rejected — from His birth in a manger to His death on a cross. When Jesus was and is left out, He reaches out to us in love. Be like Jesus.

 

Prayer: Father, may I not have pity parties but Jesus-parties.

Promise: "If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." —Rm 10:9

Praise: St. Andrew is said to have preached for several days from the cross upon which he died.