Matthew and Mark tell a similar story of the call of the first apostles. As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew. St. John, on the other hand, portrays Andrew as initially a disciple of John the Baptist who meets Jesus and becomes convinced that the is the one John the Baptist was talking about. He then brings his brother, Simon Peter, to Jesus and they become disciples. (That, to me at least, has the ring of authenticity.) For that reason the Greek Church calls St. Andrew, the Protokletos, the first called. Given his priority it seems odd that he was not part of the inner circle. The triumvirate of Peter, James and John were the ones who accompanied Jesus at the special moments of his life like the transfiguration. Did Andrew feel left out? Did Jesus deliberately leave him behind because he trusted him to serve as den mother to the other eight disciples? The Bible does not tell us. What we can glean from his experience is an understanding that there are different ways to serve. Andrew might not have played the same role as Peter, James and John but his role was essential nonetheless. When we look at our lives we need to walk with confidence in the particular path God has laid out of us and not pine after the roles other disciples are called to follow.
St. Andrew is the patron saint of the Ukraine so let us place that worn-torn country under his protection in a special way on this day.
