The first comes in tonight’s gospel and comes from the opening chapter of Mark’s gospel. It tells of the calling of the fisherman Peter and Andrew by Jesus by the Lake of Gallilee. It is a narrative we have heard many times but it never ceases to startle us with its immediacy and spontaneity. Peter and Andrew we are told left their nets and their father in the boat and simply followed Jesus. Something made them respond with an immediacy that we still find astonishing. It was as if nothing else mattered. Nothing could come between them and Jesus. It was as if they had found the “pearl of great price” and had “sold all that they had” in order to purchase it. Their relationship with their father; their employment security; their personal future with regard to marriage and home; all took second place to the “one thing that mattered” and that was the need to follow Jesus wherever he led them. They stand in dramatic contrast to the rich young man who when invited to follow Jesus turned away sorrowing for he had “great possessions”. He lacked the freedom and the courage and the faith to let go and let God.

John’s gospel has a rather different version of Andrew’s calling which still highlights his spontaneous reaction to the presence and call of Jesus. In John Andrew witnesses John the Baptist’s pointing to Jesus and saying “Behold the Lamb of God”. Andrew not only heard what John said but acted on it. He went and found Jesus and in that encounter was invited to “come and see” that is to investigate further. Such was his excitement that Andrew went and found his brother Peter and said “we have found the Messiah”. What I find so attractive and encouraging about that moment is that Andrew did not keep his perception to himself but shared it. And not only shared it but shared with his brother. Thus Andrew becomes in Christian tradition the first missionary. He not only shared his faith insight with Peter but brought his brother to Jesus so that he too could have the experience first hand.

That desire to share his excitement at finding Jesus the Messiah informs another incident in John’s gospel and that his response to some Greeks who desired to see Jesus. Again Andrew could have been selfish with his relationship with Jesus or unduly protective of Jesus or even worse suspicious of the Greeks’ intentions given that they were not Jewish. But none of that. Andrew in anticipation of Paul’s mission to the Gentiles introduces the Greeks to Jesus. Andrew recognizes that Jesus is for all people at all time; he is the universal Savior and Lord.

But last but by no means least and again in John’s gospel it is Andrew who faced with the vast hungry crowd and Jesus’ desire to have them fed brought the boy with his lunch to Jesus. “There is a boy here who has 5 barley loaves and 2 small fish. But what are they among so many people?” At least Andrew did something in the circumstances even though it seemed somewhat pointless. Andrew may not have fully understood what was going on but he did recognize that Jesus was no ordinary man.

So three things stand out for me with Andrew and are the foundation of our thanksgiving for his life and witness tonight. Andrew was open to the things of the Spirit; he responded wholeheartedly to both what he heard and what he encountered; he was willing to share his faith, generously and enthusiastically; and last but not least he was prepared to respond in practical ways even at the risk of looking foolish.

At the Frick at present there is an exhibition of 14 paintings from the Cleveland Art Gallery which is undergoing restoration. There is a fine canvass depicting the crucifixion of St Andrew I think by Zurrubian. Andrew is shown as an old man who has seen it all. But there shines through his look of resignation a great beauty and warmth. But what is driving his persecutors crazy is that he is still preaching Jesus and his love right to the end.

May we who follow Jesus give thanks for all the saints and especially this day for St Andrew. May his and their example enliven our ministry and mission.   Amen

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