Wednesday in the first week of advent
Theme: Salvation is all inclusive
Today the church celebrates the feast of St. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. He was formerly a disciple of John the Baptist, and later became one of the Apostles of Jesus. He is popularly remembered as the person who pointed out to Jesus the boy with the loaves and fish that was used to feed the people in the desert. He continued to proclaim the good news of the gospel in different places until he was martyred in Greece.
In the 1st reading of today, from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, We see a wonderful proclamation of faith that points out the fact that salvation is all inclusive in the assertion, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame”. Jesus went beyond boundaries and broke the division between the Gentiles and the Jews. Salvation is open to everyone who believes and lives accordingly in their daily life. What this simply means is that God has done his own and what is left is for you and I to do in our daily life. Andrew the Apostle, whose feast we celebrate today, has already shown us the path to go; if we want to attain the salvation that God is presenting to all his children. It is an invitation for us to live a life that glorifies God at all times and also promotes the kingdom of God here on earth. This is an invitation that we have to embrace and take seriously in our lives, as we strive to behold the beatific vision.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, in the gospel reading of today, we see the depth of the faith of the four men that Jesus called and made them his Apostles. They did not question Jesus, when he told them come follow me; they left everything behind and followed him, and their lives never remained the same. In the same way, the Lord is saying to you and I, come follow me. Just like the Apostles, let us resolve to accept the invitation of Christ today and follow him without reservation. When we say yes to God, we have nothing to lose, but everything to gain. It is personal and a choice that you have to make as an individual. The saints we celebrate in the church, all accepted this invitation and they did not regret their choice for Christ. Let us also join them and make the same choice today.
I pray that through the intercession of saint Andrew, we will all say yes to the invitation of Christ; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Peace be with you.