Andrew, Apostle

The first minor festival in this new Church Year is the commemoration of Andrew, one of the Apostles of our Lord. This is the Collect for the day: “Almighty God, by Your grace the apostle Andrew obeyed the call of Your Son to be a disciple. Grant us also to follow the same Lord Jesus Christ in heart and life, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” This collect sets the tone for our commemorations of the saints who have gone before us. It’s not about them, per se, it’s about Christ. It’s about Christ for them and also Christ for us. We remember the saints so that we can rejoice in the blessings He accomplished through them. And we pray that He will do the same through us. God is rich in mercy, we see that in His calling of Andrew. Andrew was an ordinary man like most of us are, and yet God called him to be one of the apostles. God calls us to serve where we are as well because of His great mercy for us.