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I think about St. Andrew quite a bit. He was one of the first four called by Christ. It was James, John, Andrew and Andrew's brother Peter. But of that quartet, only the trio of Peter, James, and John ended up being Jesus' closest friends.
I wonder if Andrew was like us and got jealous. According to the Gospel of John, it was Andrew who brought Peter to the Lord, and the Lord seemed to like Peter better. How often have we introduced a sibling or friend to our inner circle only to have them become more popular or have a greater aptitude for what you enjoy?
But I bet that Andrew was better than most of us. He was probably a model of humility. I like to imagine that he was happy for his brother and he was content to have others loved and esteemed more than himself.
My favorite story is about when he died. They tied him to the cross, but for days and days he preached non-stop to the point where the officials realized it was doing them more harm than good.
But when they came to take him down, Andrew looked at Jesus and told him he was tired and he just wanted to go home to heaven and be with Him. So the soldiers were unable to take him down and Andrew finally went home to the Jesus and his brother Peter on November 30th 60 AD.
Tomorrow is the feast of St. Andrew. And there is a special novena prayer that is prayed between now and Christmas. It goes as follows:
St. Andrew Christmas Novena
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.
That prayer is prayed 15 times a day until the ends. My wife and I pray this together every year and have found many graces through the intercession of St. Andrew. I pray that all of you do as well.
God Bless.
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