AND THEY LEFT EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW HIM. (Homily for Monday of the 1st Week in Advent, Year C.)


Bible Study: Romans 10, 9 to 18. And Matthew 4, 18 to 22.


Every year, the church calculates the date of Advent based on when the feast of St. Andrew occurs. This is because the feast of St. Andrew remains a defining point for our understanding of the true spirit of Advent. The life of St. Andrew we know was one of complete detachment as we read in today’s Gospel passage. The moment Jesus said “come after me and I will make you fishers of men,” Simon and Andrew his brother left everything they were doing at once and followed Jesus.

Advent is a time of detachment. Recalling the words of Jesus in yesterday’s Gospel passage, “But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and CARES OF THIS LIFE, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21, 34 to 36. When we are solely concerned about meeting the cares of this life, we lose touch with God and it is impossible to serve both God and money.

Another aspect of the life of this great saint that defines the spirit of Advent was the fact that he was a person who always brought people to God. That is to say, Andrew knew how to prepare the minds of people and he always did background work before bringing them to Christ. Although today’s Gospel passage depicts the calling of Simon and Andrew as something that happened at the same time, the Gospel of John gives us a different picture. According to John, Andrew was first a disciple of John the Baptist and when John the Baptist pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God, he and the other disciple of John walked up to Jesus and asked, “Master, where do you stay?” Then Jesus said: “Come and See.”

As the Gospel of John puts it: “One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). John 1, 40 to 42. Even though Simon become more prominent than Andrew later on, Andrew did not seem to be bothered, he had done his job, he had brought the best candidate to Jesus.

Again, at the miracle of the multiplication of loaves, while the other disciples were scampering around thinking of what to do, Andrew was the one who brought the little boy with five loaves and two fish to Jesus. John 6, verse 8. I guess, Andrew must have spoken to this boy in a manner that he was willing to render his entire lunch box to Jesus and I am sure if Andrew had not brought this boy to Jesus, that miracle would not have occurred.

In the course of his life, Andrew continued his mission of bringing people to Jesus by preparing their minds. And it was precisely for this beautiful work of spreading the message of Christ that he was persecuted in an “X” shaped cross. As we are told, he did not die immediately but suffered terribly on that cross for two whole days still preaching to the people who had gathered to watch his crucifixion. Here was a preacher par excellence, he continued to preach up till his very last breath.

Thanks to the preaching of St. Andrew, many were converted to the faith and came to believe that Jesus Christ is lord thereby leading to their salvation. This is what St. Paul sings about in the first reading, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news.” The task of preaching is central to the salvation of souls.

Preaching is the first of the chain of processes that brings people to heaven. As St. Paul analyses, “For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!" Romans 10, 13 to 15.

Are you a preacher? Today’s message should greatly encourage you. Keep on spreading the Good News. You are contributing greatly to the salvation of souls. And like Andrew, note that you are cannot preach well unless you are completely detached, that is, unless you actually leave everything behind to follow Jesus. What makes modern day preaching ineffective is that preachers are still very much attached to the world and preaching itself has now become a means of increasing in wealth and worldly goods, these days, the truth itself is sacrificed on the altar of entertainment. Preaching is not about making anyone feel good or saying what they like to hear, preaching is delivering God’s message just as it is, that it may cut through stony hearts and bring about repentance.

Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, grant me the grace of true detachment from the world and grant that through my life, many may be brought closer to you, O Lord. Amen.


Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. Happy new week.

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