Liturgy Lesson for St. Andrew the Apostle: Manly or Courageous
November 22, 2008
St. Andrew the Apostle, whose day we commemorate this morning, was born the son of Jonah and St. Peter’s brother, in Bethsaida of Galilee. They were fishermen together at Capernaum the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Although Jewish, his name was Greek, taken from the word andreia, meaning “manly or courageous.” He proved a Godly example of both. Although certainly a “manly man,” his interest in the spiritual life as a disciple of the Baptist led Andrew to instantly recognize Jesus as Messiah, and then introduce Him to his brother. This personal “Jesus encounter” changed Andrew forever—he abandoned his life and business to follow the Lord, and focused his fisherman’s work ethic with spiritual insight and a servant’s heart, working for others and the Kingdom instead of himself. In every mention of him in the Gospels, he’s helping someone in need or trouble—something with no reward for himself. When condemned to death for preaching the Gospel, as if to prove his name, he faced his crucifixion Nov 30th, 60 AD, on an X-shaped (St. Andrew’s) cross, not just courageously, but happily—knowing his reward was not in this life, but with His Lord in Heaven—a “manly man” in God’s way! This is the lesson for his day, then—may we be so changed by our own “Jesus encounter” that we abandon our selfish lives to help those around us for the Kingdom’s sake—for the Heavenly reward!
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