THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023
THURSDAY OF THE THIRTY FOURTH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME YR A
FEAST OF SAINT ANDREW
Romans 10:9-13
Matthew 4:18-22
FAITH RESPONSE TO GOD’S INVITATION
The simplistic response given by Andrew to the call of Christ as he passed the way is something to ponder on today. That the Lord Jesus was passing and seeing these two disciples, Simon and Andrew in their job of fishing and mending their nets, Jesus beckoned on them and without thinking for a while, without a second thought, they left everything, their job well known to them, their net and boat and followed Jesus.
That is very dramatic and very simplistic too. But that is the attitude of those who understands the mission and life of faith. Response to the call of Christ demands a spontaneous reaction. It is an acceptance of the higher order, an acknowledgement of the supremacy of Christ and a call to a higher duty.
Divine calls come with its demands and tasks that is always hidden yet compelling, appealing yet forceful, convincing yet unreasonable. It is more a call for total heart devotion and bodily presence. The answer to the call is always blind yet always hopeful. Real but always appearing like illusion.
For the apostles Simon, Andrew, James and John as seen in the gospel of today. It was a response that was spontaneous and immediate. Even though not quite understood by these disciples yet it was highly compelling to them. That they abandoned everything, their life plan, their former jobs, even their boats and other properties and their families to follow Jesus. They abandoned themselves with their past and yearns for a future that is bleak and unclear, Yet a future that appears hopeful, interesting and with the master Jesus.
They understood faintly that they have a special mission unknown to them. It is a leap in the dark. A walk with the Saviour whom they seem to have seen to be super abundantly and able to take care of them. They bowed to a superior authority. They must have a foreknowledge of Jesus’ powers and abilities that endeared them to follow without questioning.
It is a call to proclaim and live, a call to bear witness and stand by their witnessing. As Saint Paul says, a call to preach so that others may follow.
As we end this liturgical year in this last day of December, the same call is extended to us. We are like these disciples James, John, Peter and then especially Andrew whose feast we celebrate today. As they answered the call of Christ, so we are challenged to answer the call this season to rid ourselves of every encumbrances, to rise above our limitations and problems. We are called to abandon ourselves in faith to divine counsel and purifying hands of God. We are called to rise and grow in our spiritual awareness by walking with Christ and living closer to him. We need to walk without thinking about ourselves, without questioning about what the future holds for us, without looking back at our past, without suggesting what gains we will get. He who leads will never leave us empty handed. Let us respond in faith and commitment to him.
His call is always like that of Peter and Andrew and we are blessed by it.
Heavenly Father, you called your disciples and they responded without any reservation. May we respond to your invitation by seeking the purification of ourselves, and working to grow in grace, to watch our ways and to work with you in rebuilding our lives and making new our ways and working for our happiness, well-being and fulfillment in life through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
