Wednesday,
November 30, 2016
St. Andrew, Apostle1st Reading: Rom 10:9–18Gospel: Mt 4:18–22
As Jesus walked by the lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simoncalled Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake, forthey were fishermen. He said to them, “Come, follow me, and I willmake you fish for people.”At once they left their nets and followed him.He went on from there and saw two other brothers, James, the sonof Zebedee, and his brother John in a boat with their father Zebedee,mending their nets. Jesus called them.At once they left the boat and their father and followed him.
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Have you led anyone closer to God? Consider how Andrew did it. The Gospel according to Matthew tells us that Andrew was casting his net into the lake with his brother Simon (later renamed Peter) when the Lord called them both to high level fishing. Immediately they left everything and followed Jesus.In St. John’s version, Simon came to know about Jesus only through Andrew. The following morning Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. It was then that Jesus changed his name from Simon to Peter, the Rock (John 1: 42). So Simon was Andrew’s first catch in his new identity as fisher of men. It was a real big catch, for Peter was to become the head of Christ’s Church on earth.
In the experience of Andrew we realize that one need not do more thanbring other people to God. Through his convincing testimony of hisencounter with Jesus Andrew was able to bring Simon to Jesus thefollowing day. Andrew’s responsibility ended there; Jesus did therest. If we are to be fishers of men as Andrew was, we must cultivatean intimate relationship with God so that our encounter with Him mayempower our testimonies with the kind of credibility that attractspeople to God.
But this requires an undivided heart. A single encounter with the Lord is enough for a person with undivided heart to give his whole heart, soul, and being to the Lord. His testimony will be empowered to bring people close to God. In contrast, the commitment of a person whose heart is divided will be compromised with some deeds of darkness. The resulting lukewarm relationship with God scandalizes others and drives them away from God.
Have you led anyone close to God so far? There are two possible reasons for a negative answer. Either you haven’t had any encounter with the Lord, or your heart is divided and your relationship with God is lukewarm. May St. Andrew help us cleanse our hearts to make a total self-dedication to the Lord! -(Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM., MAPM., MMExM., REB., Email: dan.delosangeles@gmail.com.
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