Let's Be First On The Job With St Andrew's Help
Advent has begun. It's the start of a new Church Year. Today is the feast of St Andrew, apostle, brother of S Peter. Did you know the first Sunday of Advent depends on St Andrew? It's the Sunday closest to St Andrew's feast day. And the first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the Liturgical Year.
St Andrew and this new beginning makes sense. He was the first apostle called by Jesus. Jesus recognized in Andrew someone who could spread the Good News someday. He saw that St Andrew would someday have the faith and fortitude to go out and build His Church - even in the face of suffering and death.
For his part, St Andrew was first to recognize that Jesus was the Messiah when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan. He then told his brother Simon, (later given the name Peter by Our Lord), all about Jesus. St Andrew was there at the beginning.
St Andrew worked as a fisherman. When he recognized Jesus, it's not like he had nothing else to do. He had job to do, and could easily have missed his chance to see Jesus for who He was. He could have simply been preoccupied with his work and with the cares of this life - and left no room for Christ.
Many of us Catholic men want to be "first" at our work. We want a promotion; we want to build our business. We want to produce good work - whether it's a cabinet, a legal brief, even a finely crafted memo. We don't want to settle for second best. That's a good thing. As long as we put Christ at the center of our busy work life.
While he was "first," St Andrew found out that being first can be a mixed bag. Tradition tells us that St Andrew died as he brought Jesus' teachings to Greece. He was crucified on a cross shaped like an "X". He was not nailed, but bound by rope to prolong his suffering. Tradition says he preached for two days in this state and died on the third day.
St Andrew never shirked from being first. He put himself "out there" in the name of Christ. Being out there made him a target of the Roman governor Aegeas during the reign of Nero. But St Andrew continued preaching to the end, in spite of persecution and suffering.
Being first for us can be a mixed bag too - that is if we really want to be first. That's because being first isn't just about promotions, more money, more power, more glory. Being first for a Catholic man at work includes being first as a disciple of Jesus Christ - just like St Andrew. But you know that, right?
You know that you have to strive just as hard to be a faithful Catholic as you do to get ahead on the job. You know that you can't let striving to get ahead at work interfere with striving for holiness - for growing closer to Christ. And you know that if conflicts arise between work and growing closer to Christ - well, you've got to make a choice.
St Andrew's choice was to leave everything and follow Christ. His choice ultimately led him to suffering and death as he preached the good news to the Greeks.
St Andrew, help us to be first, as you were first. Help us to be first in working for the greater glory of God. Help us, in our workplace, to keep God present in our work throughout this day and every day.
St Andrew and this new beginning makes sense. He was the first apostle called by Jesus. Jesus recognized in Andrew someone who could spread the Good News someday. He saw that St Andrew would someday have the faith and fortitude to go out and build His Church - even in the face of suffering and death.
For his part, St Andrew was first to recognize that Jesus was the Messiah when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan. He then told his brother Simon, (later given the name Peter by Our Lord), all about Jesus. St Andrew was there at the beginning.
St Andrew worked as a fisherman. When he recognized Jesus, it's not like he had nothing else to do. He had job to do, and could easily have missed his chance to see Jesus for who He was. He could have simply been preoccupied with his work and with the cares of this life - and left no room for Christ.
Many of us Catholic men want to be "first" at our work. We want a promotion; we want to build our business. We want to produce good work - whether it's a cabinet, a legal brief, even a finely crafted memo. We don't want to settle for second best. That's a good thing. As long as we put Christ at the center of our busy work life.
While he was "first," St Andrew found out that being first can be a mixed bag. Tradition tells us that St Andrew died as he brought Jesus' teachings to Greece. He was crucified on a cross shaped like an "X". He was not nailed, but bound by rope to prolong his suffering. Tradition says he preached for two days in this state and died on the third day.
St Andrew never shirked from being first. He put himself "out there" in the name of Christ. Being out there made him a target of the Roman governor Aegeas during the reign of Nero. But St Andrew continued preaching to the end, in spite of persecution and suffering.
Being first for us can be a mixed bag too - that is if we really want to be first. That's because being first isn't just about promotions, more money, more power, more glory. Being first for a Catholic man at work includes being first as a disciple of Jesus Christ - just like St Andrew. But you know that, right?
You know that you have to strive just as hard to be a faithful Catholic as you do to get ahead on the job. You know that you can't let striving to get ahead at work interfere with striving for holiness - for growing closer to Christ. And you know that if conflicts arise between work and growing closer to Christ - well, you've got to make a choice.
St Andrew's choice was to leave everything and follow Christ. His choice ultimately led him to suffering and death as he preached the good news to the Greeks.
St Andrew, help us to be first, as you were first. Help us to be first in working for the greater glory of God. Help us, in our workplace, to keep God present in our work throughout this day and every day.
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