Feast of St. Andrew (2015-11-30)

Who taught Thomas Edison to add, subtract, multiply and divide?

Who taught astronauts Mark Kelly and Scott Kelly about the planets and gravity?

I use these examples of people to whom WEST ORANGE has some claim … Thomas Edison had a factory and went on to become famous due to his work in West Orange and beyond.

Mark Kelly and Scott Kelly are two NASA astronauts who are from West Orange. They are the subjects of a study in which one identical twin (Scott) is in spaceflight for a year and the other (Mark) is on earth with the rest of us. What happens to the body during this time?

In these and other cases, Thomas Edison, Scott Kelly, Mark Kelly will gain some credit for their work. But, who taught them? Who gave them their start?

I ask this question because [today is ]  or … [OR THIS PAST MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30 was] the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle.

Compared to his brother, Simon Peter, we know little about Andrew. John Henry Newman observed,
“Andrew is known scarcely by name; while Peter has held the place of honour all over the Church.” (p. 234)

Andrew, however, demonstrates an spirit of evangelism and hospitality that we are called to emulate. In three cases,  Andrew brings outsiders into the community.

There are Greek travelers who come first to Philip but then to Andrew for access to Jesus. (John 12:22) There is the young boy with the loaves and fishes at the multiplication miracle. (John 6:8-9) Andrew introduces both of these to Jesus.

However, most well known is Andrew’s introduction of Simon, telling him, “We have found the Messiah.” (John 1:41) It is not clear whether Simon was also as attentive as Andrew at that moment.? [Simon may have been facing in a different direction ? ]

In his role as the intermediary, Andrew is also the servant to his brother and the other disciples. While Peter goes on to leadership, Andrew is no less important. The last shall be first.

Is this background-position also not true for parents and guardians and grandparents and grown-ups in general?  That is, we are called to take pride in the growth of younger persons and in publication of their success rather than the spotlight on themselves.

John Henry Newman observes in a Sermon about St. Andrew ("The World's Benefactors", Bk. II, Sermon 1) that it is only in rare cases that, for example, credit is accorded directly to the parents of great saints.

St. Monica lives on in Catholic heritage as an exception, with her prayers singled out in The Confessions of Augustine.  Nevertheless, St. Augustine is the name better remembered.

The season of Advent – and feast of St. Andrew – reminds us not only to welcome Christ but also to recognize that his grace is shared and mediated through others.

These teachers – whether parents or friends or family – do not need to be thanked.

Their great desire and evangelical spirit is only to go with you, because together “We have found the Messiah.”