November 30, 2017

Gospel: Mt 4:18-22
As Jesus walked by the lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come, follow me; and I will make you fish for people.“
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He went on from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them.
At once, they left the boat, and their father, and followed him.

REFLECTION:
Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium said that the joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness “(EG, 1). But there‘s something more for those who share the good news. The Pope said: “How much good it does when Jesus once more touches our lives and impels us to share his new life. What then happens is that “we speak of what we have seen and heard“ ! Its beauty will amaze us and constantly excite us…and there‘s nothing more precious which we can give others.“ (EG, 264).
The Pope is actually telling us that there is a joy, and in fact, an indescribable joy in sharing the good news. For this, the messengers of good news are blessed. St. Paul in the first reading, also speaks highly of those who become instruments of the proclamation of the word of God: “How beautiful are the feet of the messenger of good news.“
And this is the reward and the privilege that St. Andrew, the saint we are honoring today, received after following the Lord and after preaching the gospel of Christ even to the extent of offering his life to it.
St. Andrew gave us his lifelong career and lifestyle, leaving everything behind, to follow Jesus. His undying faith in a difficult world is an inspiration to us.