He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him. – Mt 4:19-20
Reflection
In today’s Gospel, we hear the account of Jesus calling his first Apostles, including St. Andrew, whose feast day it is today. He often is referred to as the “First-Called.” St. Matthew’s account is clear that in the two different scenes described in these short lines, the fishermen Jesus approached responded “at once” and “immediately.” It’s curious, in fact. The fishermen were simple people, but they weren’t stupid. Why would they follow someone without any apparent thought? Did they know something about this Jesus? Were they mesmerized by him? We’re not told.
But there’s another lesson we might take from today’s reading, which is more accessible. We have just begun Advent, and we hear from our preachers that it’s a time recalling the long waiting of the Jews for the Messiah, of the people’s longing for his coming.
But this Gospel could also remind us that He too is waiting. Waiting for us.
Andrew, Simon and the other fishermen that Jesus invited apparently did not keep Jesus waiting one bit.
Today is a good day to reflect on how we have kept him waiting: when he calls us to be closer to him in prayer, when our consciences accuse us that there is something very serious standing between us and him, when we cling to the nets of our security and fail to trust that he will take us to a place where we will find a much better catch.
What are we waiting for?
Prayer
We humbly implore your majesty, O Lord,
that, just as the blessed Apostle Andrew
was for your Church a preacher and pastor,
so he may be for us a constant intercessor before you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
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