November 30, 2012

Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle

St. Andrew, the brother of Simon, surnamed BarJonah.  Read more about these brothers.

Lectionary: 684

Reading 1 from St. Paul's epistle to the RomansRom 10:9-18

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.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified,
and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
The Scripture says,
No one who believes in him will be put to shame.
There is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
the same Lord is Lord of all,
enriching all who call upon him.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

The assumption of St. Paul in this teaching, is that believing we obey and do that which God commands.  As Jesus said:

Matthew 7:21-27
King James Version (KJV)
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Its not enough to claim to believe.

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?
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!

Here is the confirmed the value of Tradition.  The Gospel of the Lord passed down by word.  Yes, the Scriptures are useful, but teaching by word is still and will always be the most valuable tool for passing the faith down generation to generation.

But not everyone has heeded the good news;
for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?
Thus faith comes from what is heard,
and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
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.

It is the Catholic Church which has taught the whole world.  And today, many still don't believe.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R. (10) The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. (John 6:63) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.

R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.

R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.

R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.

R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

This Psalm reminds us that to be faithful believers, we must do the Commandments of God.

1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew
Mt 4:18-22

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.

This recounts when Jesus met Sts. Peter (formerly Simon barJonah) and Andrew.

He said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

They were fishermen, but now they would pursue the souls of men.

At once they left their nets and followed him.

Astonishingly, they dropped everything and followed Him?  The Spirit of God must have been powerful in them.

He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.

Then Jesus met the Sons of Thunder:

Mark 3:17
And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

This is the name that Jesus gave them. Zebedee (i.e. Boanerges) must have been an impressive man.

They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their fatherand followed him.

They left everything also, even their father, and followed Him as well.  Wow!

Sincerely,

De Maria