St. Andrew

by FLL Editorial Team
2013-11-30


耶穌沿加里肋亞海行走時,看見了兩個兄弟:稱為伯多祿的西滿,和他的兄弟安德肋,在海裏撒網,他們原是漁夫。他就對他們說:「來,跟從我!我要使你們成為漁人的漁夫。」他們立刻捨下網,跟隨了他。他從那裏再往前行,看見了另外兩個兄弟:載伯德的兒子雅各伯和他的弟弟若望,在船上同自己的父親載伯德修理他們的網,就召叫了他們。他們也立刻捨下魚船和自己的父親,跟隨了他。
瑪竇福音 4:18-22


每年的11月30日是宗徒聖安德肋的慶日,他是西滿伯多祿的兄弟,原是一個漁夫。在今天的福音中,當他和伯多祿一聽見耶穌的召叫,便放下網,跟隨了祂,後來被耶穌揀選為十二宗徒的一個。

根據若望福音,安德肋先是若翰洗者的門徒,聽了若翰的話而跟隨了耶穌,然後他去對弟弟西滿說:「我們找到了默西亞。」──意即基督。(若1:40-41)

從這兩個簡單的事蹟,我們可以看見安德肋是一個有信德、坐言起行的人。因為他無論是基於若翰洗者的話,還是因為耶穌親自的召叫,他都願意相信、並立刻作出行動。漁網是漁夫必備的工具,所以「立刻捨下網,跟隨了祂」這個動作,證明安德肋願意放下一切,包括生活的倚靠,毅然跟隨耶穌,即使當時可能他根本不明白耶穌說「我要使你們成為漁人的漁夫」這句話,是甚麼意思。

安德肋也具福音傳播者的特質,值得我們學習。因為在若望福音中,當他跟隨了耶穌後,他便去找自己的弟弟西滿,介紹耶穌給他,然後領他到耶穌跟前。正如在致羅馬人的書信中,聖保祿宗徒說:「信仰是出於報道,報道是出於基督的命令。」(羅10:17) 如果沒有人像安德肋或其他宗徒一樣,放下一切成為耶穌的門徒,為祂作證,天主的福音便不會被傳揚;天主的福音不被傳揚,其他人又怎相信呢?

你有義無反顧地跟隨主耶穌基督嗎?你有勇於為主作證,介紹耶穌給身邊的人嗎?

這篇默想由生命恩泉文摘編輯小組撰寫,內容以下列文章為根據: Commentaries on the daily readings by Sacred Space, 聖安德肋宗徒(慶日).


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.
Matthew 4:18-22

November 30th is the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle. He was the brother of Simon Peter, and also a fisherman. In today's gospel reading, when Jesus called Andrew and Simon Peter to follow Him, they left their nets and followed Him at once. Andrew was then chosen as one of Jesus' twelve apostles.

According to the gospel of John, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist at first. When John said “Behold, the Lamb of God” while watching Jesus walked by, Andrew heard and followed Jesus. He then found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” and brought him to Jesus. (John 35-42)

From these two incidents, we can see Andrew is a person with faith and he's quick to act. He has an openness to trust in what Jesus and John the Baptist told him, and he's willing to act immediately after Jesus called him. Fish nets are essential tools for fishermen, so when Andrew left his nets and followed Jesus, he is leaving behind his means of livelihood; nevertheless he did not hesitate, even though at the time he might not understand what Jesus meant by making them “fishers of men”.

Andrew is also a good example for us as evangelist, because when he heard what John said and followed Jesus, he went and told his brother Simon, and brought him to Jesus. As said in the Epistle of Paul to the Romans, “faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) If no one is like Andrew and the apostles who left everything to follow Christ, the gospel will not be proclaimed and be heard; if the gospel cannot be proclaimed and be heard, how can others believe?

Are you willing to leave everything and live according to God's will? Have you witnessed for Christ and introduced Him to people around you?

This reflection is prepared by the FLL Inspire editorial team as a digest of the following two articles: Commentaries on the daily readings by Sacred Space, 聖安德肋宗徒(慶日).

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