Mt 4:18-22: What was it, St. Andrew, that caused you to follow Christ?

What was it St. Andrew that upon hearing the call of Christ, you immediately left your old life to follow him?  Was it not wisdom that the Spirit had given to you, and that enabled you to see the law of love in Christ?  Did you not feel his goodness and love toward you, which were greater than anything in your life, and that made it worth giving up everything to possess?  How did you become a fisher of men if not from the joy you received from knowing you were loved by Christ?  

St. Andrew, pray for us.  We so easily forget Christ and his love, and return to our former lives thinking we'll find something better.  Through your intercession, may we never doubt his love, and may we follow him immediately in every moment of our lives.  

St. Andrew, while Jesus was walking, he saw you.  He saw you with the eyes of love.  He saw you because he desired you.  Did your eyes meet?  Did you see the love he had for you in his eyes?  Was it this encounter that led you to abandon everything and follow him?

Luke 21:29-33: The Permanence of Christ's Words

Lord Jesus Christ, everything in my life passes away.  Nothing is permanent, except your words of love.  They are permanent, and they don't change.  Your love for me doesn't fluctuate with my performance.  You don't love me more when I'm obedient and less when I'm disobedient.  Praise be to you for such a foundation on which I can build my life!  Make your redeeming love the drive of my life so that others may see your joy in me and long for the hope your salvation gives to us.

You compare the advent of the Kingdom of God to the arrival of summer.  You know that summer is my favorite season.  It is a time for long and sunny days, warm weather, cookouts, and vacations. In other words, it's a time of happiness.  Summer is an apropos image for the Kingdom of God where the joy that comes from your love will know no bounds and where your glory will be a sun that never sets.  But just as we have to pass through the doldrums of winter to get to summer, so we'll have to pass through many trials and tribulations to get into the kingdom.  May your love, alive in us, grant us the victory.