The Holy and All-Praiseworthy Apostle Andrew the First-Called
1 Corinthians 4:9-16; John 1:35-51
Polyeleos Feast. Nativity Fast.
Read John 1:35-51
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, the brother of St. Peter. As we read in today’s gospel, Andrew was the first who Christ invited to follow Him saying, “Come and see.” For this reason, Andrew carries the unique title “the First-Called.” Although he was called first, he did not have the honor of being selected as the chief of the apostles. That role went to his brother. Andrew was instrumental in bringing Peter to Jesus after recognizing that Jesus is the Messiah proclaimed by John the Baptist.
The kontakion for today’s feast is as follows: “Let us praise God’s herald, whose name is ‘courage,’ Peter’s kinsman who leads those in the Church who follow the chief apostle, for as then to Peter so now to us he cries aloud: We have found the One so longed for.”
The name “Andrew” is related to the Greek word for “man” which in many languages is also related to the words for “courage,” “manliness,” and “bravery.” It seems that we often forget to regard courage as a virtue, although it has been considered one since ancient times. Because courage is a virtue, it is something we can consciously work to grow in by God’s grace. It must have taken courage for Andrew to accept the word of John the Baptist and then Christ’s invitation to “come and see.” After spending the day with Christ, Andrew was convinced that He was “the One so longed for,” as today’s kontakion poetically explains. Upon believing that Jesus is the Messiah, Andrew courageously and confidently shared his conviction with others. As Andrew led Peter to Jesus, let us also not be afraid to share our belief that Jesus is the promised Messiah that humanity had been hoping for.
With the virtue of courage, in spite of any fears that we face, we are determined to do the right thing. How often do we fail to do what we know is right because we are afraid? It is helpful to remember Christ’s instruction after His resurrection: “Do not be afraid” (Mt. 28:10). We need to remember and have confidence that our loving Father is in control of all things, and so why should we allow our fears to stop us from doing what is right? Each time we pray the “Our Father,” we should call to mind God’s power as we pray that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.