Would you ever consider adopting Andrew as a spiritual model for the Advent season?
The thought occurred to me this morning as we celebrated Andrew’s feast day, one day into the first week of Advent.
It’s a curious question, given how little scripture tells us about the man. His name appears only about a dozen times in the New Testament – and almost always in connection with a much more prominent figure, his brother Simon Peter.
There is a story told about Andrew, though, that suggests we could do worse than to follow his example on the path to holiness.
It occurs early in the gospel according to John (1: 35-42):
The next day John [the Baptist] was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’ The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi, 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. It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah.’ Then he brought him to Jesus.
So: Andrew hears, we are told. He listens—really listens—for the stirring of the Spirit in his life.
And then, Andrew shares. He doesn’t keep the Good News to himself. He tells his brother what he’s discovered…and then takes the extra step of making it easy for Peter to meet Jesus, too.
All in all, an excellent approach for preparing the way, wouldn’t you say?
O Saint Andrew, Advent Sage: Pray for us!
Let us pause now…to recall that we are in the presence of the Holy One.
IHS
With Us Still 
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