As I watch my daughter (4) and son (8) interact, I enjoy seeing them develop their sibling relationship.  They have a special bond that is unique and different from the bonds my wife and I have with them.

For example, whenever one of them is excited about something, their impulse is to immediately (and excitedly) share it with the other.  Their excitement at the wonder of life is beautiful and pure.  It is something we adults can easily overlook or take for granted.  I hope I can emulate them in my wonder for Christ Jesus.

Jesus, followed by Simon Peter and Andrew

In today’s reading from the Gospel according to John, we read the story where Andrew learns that Jesus is the Messiah.  His impulse?  To share it with his brother, Simon Peter.

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
“We have found the Messiah” – which is translated Christ -.
Then he brought him to Jesus.

I love the statement:  ”He brought him to Jesus.”  In his excitement, Andrew brought his brother to Jesus – literally and figuratively.  Little did Andrew know that his desire to share something profound to his brother would (as we read later in the Gospels) be so important to the future of Christianity.

When Andrew returned to Jesus with Simon Peter:

Jesus looked at him and said,
“You are Simon the son of John;
you will be called Cephas” – which is translated Peter.

Later in the ministry of Jesus, Matthew 16:16 illustrates the impact of Andrew bringing his brother to Jesus:

Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus challenged all of the apostles to be fishers of men – to bring others to him so they may hope also for salvation through their belief that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God.  In Peter’s Confession to Jesus (Matthew 16:13-19), Jesus entrusted Peter to lead his Church and for him and the apostles to propagate the faith.

Today, Christians are now entrusted with transmitting the faith, with sharing the Good News, with bringing our brothers and sisters (anyone) to Jesus.  In another post, I suggest some ways we can accomplish this most effectively.

I encourage readers to share this post and comment on their experiences in Evangelization.

Today I give thanks for the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist.  I pray for all my sisters and brothers in Christ that we will remember to share our excitement that Jesus is the Messiah with the same enthusiasm as Andrew did to his brother.

†

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Tagged: Catholicism, Christianity, faith, postaday2012, Protestant, religion, Saint Peter