Romans 10:9-18; Psalm 18(19):2-5; Matthew 4:18-22
Saint Andrew was born in Bethsaida, in Galilee, and worked as a fisherman. He may have been a disciple of St John the Baptist. He became one of the first to follow Jesus and introduced his brother, Simon Peter, to him. As one of the twelve Apostles he was widely venerated in ancient times, and became patron saint of Scotland because according to legend some of his bones were brought there and buried at the place where the town of St Andrew’s now stands.
Our Gospel today perhaps unsurprisingly tells of the calling of Andrew (together with Peter) by Jesus, on the shore of the Lake of Galilee. They respond 'immediately' and a little further on two more fishermen are called and again follow 'immediately'. Turning them into Fishers of Men, the 3 years or so of Jesu's active ministry on earth begins at this point. How did Jesus plan for this time? He went into the desert alone, to pray. There he had been tempted, but through the blessing of prayer he had the strength to persevere and make himself ready for his ministry. That inner strength must have given Jesus quite some presence to have 4 professional fishermen abandon their livelihoods to 'immediately' follow a perfect stranger, with not a word of explanation, no obvious plan, and no plan 'B' !
If Jesus called us today, would we drop everything that consumes our busy lives, and follow him?