Wednesday, November 30 : Basil of Seleucia

Andrew was the first of the apostles to acknowledge the Lord as his teacher. … He abandoned John the Baptist’s teaching to attend the school of Christ. … He sought the true light in the shining of the lamp (Jn 5:35). Beneath its dampened glow he prepared himself for Christ’s splendor. … Teacher though he was, John the Baptist became servant and herald of the Christ who stood before him: “Behold,” he said, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29). Behold him who delivers us from death; behold him who destroys sin. As for me, I was sent not as the bridegroom but as the one who accompanies him (Jn 3:29). I came as servant, not as lord.” Struck by these words, Andrew left his former teacher and hurried towards the one he was announcing. … He hurried towards our Lord, his longing manifesting itself in his bearing …, drawing John the evangelist with him. Both abandon the lamp and make their way towards the Sun. Andrew is the first plant in the garden of apostles; it is he who opens the door to Christ’s teaching, the first to gather fruit in the field that the prophets had tilled. … He was the first to recognise him of whom Moses said: “A prophet like me will the Lord your God raise up for you; to him you shall listen” (Dt 18:15). … He recognised the one whom the prophets foretold and brought Peter, his brother, to him. He showed Peter the treasure that as yet he did not know: “We have found the Christ (Jn 1:41), the one we have been longing for. We were waiting for his coming: now come and experience his presence.” … Andrew leads his brother to Christ …: it was his first miracle.
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team