Guest Post: Be a Friend, Make a Friend, Bring a Friend to Christ

St. Andrew brings Peter to Jesus.
Ottavio Vannini, 17th c. 

Editor's comment: The priest who prepared my husband and me for marriage and witnessed that blessed event used to tell us, "Be a friend, make a friend, bring a friend to Christ." All of us have many opportunities to witness to the "hope that is in us" through Christ Jesus. Sometimes that witness is verbal and sometimes it's silent. But our witness begins with drawing closer to the Lord. Can you meet Him today at daily Mass? Can you speak to His Mother Mary and honor her through praying the rosary? She faithfully brings every soul who desires it to meet her Son Jesus. No matter what has happened in your life or where you are today, you can "bring a friend to Christ" through your love, kindness, patience, understanding, etc. 

HANDING ON TO A NEW GENERATION

by James M. Thunder* 

Last month I listened to a parish Director of Youth Ministry describe a sociological study documenting how so many young Catholics think of our Faith as a set of propositions without a personal relationship with God Who is the subject of the propositions. Then I watched World Over Live broadcast a videoclip of Bishop Robert J. Baker of Birmingham at the Junes meeting of the American bishops (the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), request that the words, the Name, Jesus Christ, appear at least once in one of the USCCB documents that was then under review.

St. Andrew the Apostle: First Called by Jesus

Today is the feast of St. Andrew the apostle, the first of the twelve to follow Jesus, the one who was always on the lookout to bring Him souls. Andrew and his friend John were disciples of John the Baptist. No sooner did John point out the Lamb of God to them, saying, "He must increase; I must decrease," than they immediately followed Jesus.

Andrew brought Peter to Jesus urging, "Come and see." And when Jesus asked the apostles if they had any food to give the hungry  crowd, it was Andrew who immediately responded by bringing the little boy with the loaves and fishes to the Master. When Philip met some Greek proselytes to Judaism who wished to see Jesus, he brought them first to Andrew. Andrew could always be counted on to lead others to Christ. And so he did, disappearing into the background in his profound humility after being the channel of grace for others.

How I love Andrew! Since I don't know my guardian angel's real name, I call him Andrew as a reminder that I want him to lead me straight to Jesus. And how appropriate it is when Andrew's feast day falls in early Advent, the season when we anticipate the coming of Christ and strive to draw nearer to Him. St. Andrew invites us to spend Advent coming to see Christ in all his innocence as the babe in the manger; in his ministry as prophet, priest, and king; in his suffering and death on the cross; and anticipating his coming at the end of the world as judge.

Let us spend this Advent like St. Andrew inviting others to "Come and see" the wonder that is Jesus Christ our saving Lord. Come, Lord Jesus! St. Andrew, pray for us.