S. Andrew, The Apostle| Daily Meditation| Daily Quote by S. Padre Pio| Divine Mercy Reflection
St. Andrew
Both Calendars
Andrew was St. Peter’s brother, and was called with him. "As [Jesus] was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is now called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him" (Matthew 4:18-20).
John the Evangelist presents Andrew as a disciple of John the Baptist. When Jesus walked by one day, John said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." Andrew and another disciple followed Jesus. "Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come, and you will see.’ So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day" (John 1:38-39a).
Little else is said about Andrew in the Gospels. Before the multiplication of the loaves, it was Andrew who spoke up about the boy who had the barley loaves and fishes (see John 6:8-9). When the Gentiles went to see Jesus, they came to Philip, but Philip then had recourse to Andrew (see John 12:20-22).
Legend has it that Andrew preached the Good News in what is now modern Greece and Turkey and was crucified at Patras.
Stories:
“...[T]he Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word’” (Acts of the Apostles 6:2–4).
COMMENT:
As in the case of all the apostles except Peter and John, the Gospels give us little about the holiness of Andrew. He was an apostle. That is enough. He was called personally by Jesus to proclaim the Good News, to heal with Jesus' power and to share his life and death. Holiness today is no different. It is a gift that includes a call to be concerned about the Kingdom, an outgoing attitude that wants nothing more than to share the riches of Christ with all people.
Daily Meditation
Never-Ending Sacrifice:
Lord Jesus, You are the Messiah, the Son of God and the Lamb of God. You are all these things and more to fulfill all the promises made by the Father. Let me continually praise you for your sacrifice!
Quote by S. Padre Pio:
Let us withdraw our gaze, moreover, from those good things that are visible to our eyes, by which I mean worldly goods, the sight of which fascinates and distracts the soul and contaminates the heart.
Divine Mercy Reflection
Reflections on Notebook Six: 327-365
We enter, now, the last of the six notebooks that Saint Faustina filled with revelations from our Lord about His unfathomable and perfect Mercy. At this point, the Message of Mercy should be clear and evoking of a deep trust in the incomprehensible love of God. All that has been shared to this point reveals that God is relentless in His pursuit of you, seeking only to love you unconditionally and to draw you into His glorious life for all eternity.
The greatest obstacle to this call to holiness is sin. But it is abundantly clear that sin is no match for the Mercy of God. His Mercy dispels your sin in an instant, disposing of your past errors forever. God’s only desire is the present moment, for in this present moment He comes to you, descending from the heights of Heaven, entering into the inner core of your soul so as to form a perfect communion with you, lifting you up to share in His divine life.
This final notebook will be reflected upon as a summary of all that has been reflected upon thus far. Just like the reflections on the first notebook, the reflections for this notebook will be short and to the point. Once you finish this chapter you are invited to return to it often as a way of quickly and easily reminding yourself of the abundant Mercy of God. The Lord’s love is perfect in every way. Allow Him to speak this truth to you with clarity and conviction.
Reflection 334: Serving Souls
One of the greatest blessings we have been given is the ability to serve others. We serve them in many ways, especially in accord with our particular vocation. But the greatest service we could ever render a person is to be a minister of the Mercy of God, leading them to the glories of Heaven. Imagine what Heaven will be like knowing that you have inspired countless souls to grow in their love of God. See this as one of your greatest blessings and privileges in life (See Diary #1622).
How eager are you to offer the truth, love and compassion of our God to others? Do you see the great honor this is and the great dignity it bestows? Never doubt how important it is to make this among the greatest priorities in life. Loving God with all your being comes first, but serving others and helping them on the road to salvation is right behind this. Commit yourself to this glorious act of Mercy today and you will be grateful for eternity that you did.
Lord, give me the desire and will to serve others with my whole heart. Help me to love them and to bring Your Mercy and compassion into their lives. May many souls be won for You, dear Lord, on account of the grace that You send them through my life. Jesus, I trust in You.