The Feast of Saint Andrew
Sometimes in reflecting on a Gospel passage, a single word comes to mind, even though the word is not in the passage. In today’s Gospel, I heard the word “trust”. Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John were fishermen; men who trusted that in casting their nets there would be a catch, hopefully, a large one – being fishermen, trust seemed a most necessary virtue for their daily task and livelihood.
On one occasion, never to be forgotten, they had an encounter that radically changed their lives. Jesus approached, saw them, and spoke: “Come after Me and I will make you fishers of men!” At once, there was no hesitation, Simon and Andrew dropped everything and followed Jesus. Then James and John hearing the same invitation immediately left boat, nets, father and followed the Man. In a moment, everything had changed!
What a tremendous act of trust, of surrender! They did not know this Jesus to any great extent – did not haveng a clue of what this would lead to; He walked up to them, spoke and they walked away with Him – and it would prove not to be easy. They trusted but there is also the trust of Jesus who, in calling them, trusted they would follow. It is clear that His invitation, at any time, to anyone, is never superficial; it always comes from the depths of His heart. In this, there is a revelation for us in our trust as we follow the Lord. As we trust in His goodness and mercy there is the Lord Jesus Himself who trusts in us that we will follow to the end.
This trust is mutual but never equal. No matter how we follow, with the usual ups and downs, the Lord’s trust in us never fails, never ends, never! This divine reality is our strength in following Him with trusting hearts.
St. Paul in the passage from Romans points out the way of trust: “For if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. Faith in the heart leads to justification, confession on the lips to salvation.” May our trust be marked by such confession and such belief.
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