Reading 1 Rom 10:9-18
Brothers and sisters:
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified,
and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
The Scripture says,
No one who believes in him will be put to shame.
There is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
the same Lord is Lord of all,
enriching all who call upon him.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone to preach?
And how can people preach unless they are sent?
As it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!
But not everyone has heeded the good news;
for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?
Thus faith comes from what is heard,
and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
But I ask, did they not hear?
Certainly they did; for
Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11
R. (10) The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. (John 6:63) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Gospel Mt 4:18-22
As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is 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.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.
Meditation: Romans 10:9-18
Saint Andrew
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news! (Romans 10:15)
With these words, taken from the Book of Isaiah, St. Paul paints a picture of someone dedicated to preaching the good news of the kingdom of God. His focus on “feet” only emphasizes the way those committed to evangelization are always on the move, always walking, or even running, to spread the gospel. Paul’s words also show how beautiful it is to see someone standing firm with the dignity of a child of God. How beautiful to God is the one who preaches, the one who walks with him, and the one who endures to the end!
What a perfect description of the apostle Andrew! A disciple of John the Baptist, Andrew heard John testify to Jesus (John 1:36). He accepted Jesus’ invitation to stay with him and then went into action right away. He ran to bring the good news—“We have found the Messiah”—to his brother Peter (1:41). For three years, Andrew traveled with Jesus, watching him perform miracles and learning about the kingdom from him. Even after Jesus died and rose, Andrew stayed on the move, just like his Master. He took the good news into the world, traveling as far as Constantinople until he finally gave his life for the Lord in the city of Patras (in modern-day Greece).
It’s inspiring to think of how beautiful, how good and pleasing, Andrew’s faithful endurance was to the Father. But did you know that you are created for that beauty too? No matter how far along you are in your journey with Jesus, you can do more for him and his church.
It doesn’t have to be hard to tell other people about the Lord. All you have to do is share your own experiences of Jesus: how he has healed you, perhaps, or how you began to know his love. You can start simply, by sharing with your family or friends. You don’t need a theology degree. You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to speak from the heart. The Holy Spirit will take care of the rest.
“Jesus, I don’t want to stand still. Teach me how to keep moving forward, just as Andrew did, bringing your good news to everyone I know.”
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