Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring [the] good news!” – Romans 10:15

       How beautiful are the love letters... How beautiful are the anonymous gifts…

       How beautiful are the acts of kindness... How beautiful are the doors held open…

       How beautiful are the morning greetings… How beautiful are the songs…

       How beautiful are the attentive ears... How beautiful are the encouragements…

       How beautiful are the moments shared… How beautiful are the gentle hands…

       How beautiful are the warm hugs… How beautiful are the forgiving tears…

       How beautiful are the healing words… How beautiful are the prayers…

Reflection: Today, what “ordinary” act will you do to bring the good news?

Lord, in every thought, in every act I take, in every expression, in every moment I’m awake. May Your good news be proclaimed!

St. Andrew, Apostle, pray for us.

St. Paul outlines here a basic structure of evangelization. We are still being sent out to proclaim the Gospel to others. But first we should proclaim the Gospel within our families, especially to our children. Let us be serious in our apostolic calling as Christians.

9 Brothers and sisters: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11 The Scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” 12 There is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? 15 And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!” 16 But not everyone has heeded the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?” 17 Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. 18 But I ask, did they not hear? Certainly they did; for “their voice has gone forth to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

R: The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.

7 [8] The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. (R) 8 [9] The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye. (R) 9 [10] The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just. (R) 10 [11] They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb. (R)

Jesus calls us to follow Him. Some people are blessed to be able to remember a distinct calling, but most of us will not. We all have a role to play for God’s plan to succeed. Let us pray for the grace to understand His plan for us so that we will be able to fulfill our responsibilities.

Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men.

18 As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. 19 He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.

think: We all have a role to play for God’s plan to succeed.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ezekiel 17-20

DO YOU HAVE BEAUTIFUL FEET?

In the year 2014, the word “selfie” was officially entered as a word in the dictionary. A selfie is a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a handheld digital camera or camera phone. Selfies are often shared on social networking sites. They are often casual and are typically taken either with a camera held at arm’s length or in a mirror.

       By midyear, I noticed seeing pictures of feet displayed in the social media. Cleverly, I was told it was called a “selfeet.” One friend of mine actually posted a picture of her feet while having a pedicure and under it the caption: “How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the good news.” That is actually a line from the letter of Paul to the Romans (10:15), which is our First Reading for today.

       “How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the good news.” Feet who announce the good news are beautiful because they are feet that are led by the spirit of God. Wherever God leads, it will always be beautiful.

       Today is the feast of Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Before he met Christ, he was a follower of John the Baptist. But after John Baptist pointed to Jesus, his feet were led to follow Jesus. At once he left John to follow the Divine Master. Jesus knew that Andrew was walking behind Him, and turning back, He asked, “What do you seek?” (see John 1:38).  Andrew answered that he would like to know where Jesus lived. Our Lord replied, “Come and see.” Immediately he led his brother Simon to Jesus.

       Andrew had beautiful feet not only because his feet were led to Jesus. He had beautiful feet because he led other feet to Jesus as well. At the end of his life, tradition holds that his feet led him to Greece to preach the Jesus event. It was also there where he met his martyrdom.

       Where do your feet bring you? Most importantly, who leads your feet? Like Andrew, whose feast we celebrate today, may it be the Lord: the God who is true, good and beautiful! Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How open are you to the leadings of the Spirit? Do you cultivate sensitivity to its promptings?

Lead me, Lord, lead my hand and my feet as well. Amen.