fish story
"Come after Me and I will make you fishers of men." —Matthew 4:19
After St. Andrew met Jesus, "the first thing he did was seek out his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah!' " (Jn 1:41) With his first cast, Andrew caught not just a man but the fisher of men and women, Simon Peter. Andrew, on his first try at evangelism, caught the man who would later catch three thousand on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41). That was just the beginning!
Because of this exceptional start, Andrew may have gotten a reputation for evangelism. When some Greeks wanted to see Jesus, "Philip went to tell Andrew" (Jn 12:22), as if Andrew were the expert in evangelism. The Church introduces us to Andrew today so we may end this Church year having fulfilled our evangelistic responsibilities.
Is there anyone you're called to tell about Jesus? Have you neglected to share the good news because of laziness or fear? You have three days left in the Church year. Don't put it off for another day, hour, or minute. Right now, be an Andrew; tell a Peter about Jesus. "How can they believe unless they have heard of Him?" (Rm 10:14)
Prayer: Father, may I spend these next three days fishing for men and women.
Promise: "If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." —Rm 10:9
Praise: St. Andrew, who had a special gift for leading others to Jesus, is believed to have preached in Greece, Turkey, Poland, and Russia.
Reference: (For related teaching, order our leaflet Mission Impossible or our audio AV 46-1 or video V-46.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 3, 2007
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.