“As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once, they left their nets and followed him.”- MT 4:18-20
Friends, God is good, all the time.
Why did Jesus first call two sets of brothers: Andrew and Peter, James, and John? A few years ago, I met a man in one of the parishes I was serving. His story still inspires and encourages me, and hopefully, it does the same for you. The punchline of the story is that he remarkably found his abandoned and lost faith back the minute his mother died," and that awesome experience, which sent him looking for a church where he could pray, is what brought me to meet him.
I understand now that if your mother or father cares to see you in heaven and keeps praying that you rediscover your faith, as the mother of that 60 plus man did, you will certainly find it again either in their lifetime or after they die. But you will certainly find it. Standing by her bedside, something suddenly hit him the moment the mother gave her last breath, and all he heard from her voice was, "Now it is time." So, what he found himself doing next was to drive around looking for a church to pray.
Don't be surprised by this story. Just pay attention to today's gospel and see a similar event in how Jesus called Andrew and Peter, James and John, and you will understand that Jesus cares about family relationships and the salvation of all members of our family. Jesus called these brothers to follow him to indicate that he is more glad when members of a family unite to follow him instead of being divided about him as indicated in the scriptures.
St. John's gospel even tells of the role of Andrew in bringing his brother Peter to Jesus. At the beginning of Advent, St. Andrew reminds families of their God-given responsibility in ensuring that all members come to know Christ and follow him. Therefore, make it one of your desires and advent aspirations to pray for your family to know and follow Christ. And if you have members who are not practicing, pray for them if you desire to see them in heaven. God puts us in families to save all members. Your prayer may be fulfilled in your lifetime or after your death, but it will certainly happen if you don't stop to pray.
Prayer blessings: Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen