Jan Robitscher: 'St. Andrew and I go back a long way--well, at least to my college years '

Sermon by Jan Robitscher: 'St. Andrew and I go back a long way--well, at least to my college years when I was confirmed at little St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Greencastle, IN. '

Andrew and his brother Simon (later to be called Peter) are casting their nets into the sea. Along comes Jesus calling, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of people”. What?  Again, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people”. They did not hesitate--not for family or friends or the money they might have made. “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” (Matt. 4:20)  

 Front and eastern side of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, located at 520 E. Seminary Street in Greencastle, Indiana, United States. Built in 1960, it is part of the Eastern Enlargement Historic District, a historic district that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

 

[Jesus] said, “Follow me...”

(Matt. 4:18)

St. Andrew                                                                                                                                                                                  Jan Robitscher

                    Deuteronomy 30: 11-14                                                                                                                  All Saints Chapel

                    Psalm 19:1-6                                                                                                                                                           CDSP

                    Romans 10: 8b-18                                                                                                                            November 30, 2012

                    Matthew 4: 18-22

 

 

In the Name of God: Father, Son and Holy spirit. Amen.

 

St. Andrew and I go back a long way--well, at least to my college years when I was confirmed at little St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Greencastle, IN.  It was there that I made the decision to leave behind my Presbyterian roots,  receive Confirmation and follow Jesus on the road of this corner of Christ’s holy catholic Church. If parishes take on the characteristics of their patron saints, then St. Andrew’s was a good place to begin my life as an Episcopalian, though I did not know then the particulars of St. Andrew’s life or what an influence he would have on the Church.

 

St. Andrew has a feast day that is both first and last. First in the Calendar of Saints and last in the Church Year.  The saying goes:

                                             St. Andrew the King

                                             Three weeks and three days 

                                             before Christmas begins. 

 

Advent always begins on the Sunday closest to St. Andrew’s Day. While the Sundays of the long, green season come to a climax with the crescendo of readings about the end of things and the Feast of Christ the King, the calendar of saints ends--and begins--with the Feast of an Apostle about whom we know almost nothing.  But there is something that comes right out of today’s Gospel reading that we do know, and because of it we are here today.

 

I am not usually one for guided meditations, but imagine, in whatever way you prefer, the scene: Imagine the Sea of Galilee, the waves just beginning to cover the sand with water as the tide comes in again, the boats out a bit from the shore.  Andrew and his brother Simon (later to be called Peter) are casting their nets into the sea. Along comes Jesus calling, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of people”. What?  Again, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people”. They did not hesitate--not for family or friends or the money they might have made. “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” (Matt. 4:20)  

 

Andrew figures again in several other places in the Gospels. He is earnest, always bringing others along with him, including his brother Simon Peter, who would later overshadow him. Andrew and Philip spoke to Jesus on behalf of the Gentiles who came to see him, and it was Andrew who brought forward the boy with the five loaves and two fish at the feeding of the five thousand.   He seemed to revel in discovering others and watching them succeed.   But back to our little guided meditation.

 

When I imagine this scene of the boats and the shore and Andrew and his brother, the question always arises, ‘What would have happened if they--or any or all of the disciples-- had said “No” to Jesus’ summons?  How different Jesus’ mission, indeed, how different the Church would have been!  But as it was they said “Yes” and followed, and the rest is history.  For this Apostle, about whom we know next to nothing, went on to have a share in Jesus’ ministry, to die a martyr’s death and to have a great influence on the Church in general, and our Episcopal Church in particular, though now we must take up the story in hagiography, where history leaves off.  

 

It is St. Andrew’s death that perhaps has had the most influence on  history and the Church in history. He is said to have been crucified in Patras, bound (not nailed) to an X-shaped cross (called a Saltire) --never mind that this probably dates to the 12th century! What is more likely true is that he did not deem himself worthy to be crucified in the same manner as Jesus--an act of humility that capped a life if devoted discipleship. The Saltire cross has graced the flags of several nations since 1385, including Greece, Scotland and England, whose flag incorporates three crosses: St. Andrew (Scotland), St. George (England) and ST. Patrick (Ireland). He is the patron of Scotland as well as Greece, Russia and several other Eastern European countries. Many are the stories of how (or if) his bones got from Patras, Greece to Scotland and how the Saltire cross came to grace the flags. 

 

There are many customs surrounding the celebration of St. Andrew. Because no weddings were permitted in Advent, he is the patron of unwed women, maidens and married women who wish to have children.  He is also the patron of fisherman, and also of singers and against sore throats!  

But what about the Saltire cross on the Episcopal Church flag? It was not until 1940 that the General Convention adopted an official flag for the Episcopal Church. William M. Baldwin made the first full-sized model of the flag.  Mr. Baldwin described the flag's design and symbolism in his own words: 

 

               "The red cross is the oldest Christian symbol dating back to the third century. The white represents purity and the red the blood of the martyrs. The blue is ecclesiastical blue, light in color, and used in the clothing of the      Blessed Virgin Mary and on this flag represents the human nature of our Lord which He got from His virgin mother. The nine cross-crosslets or Jerusalem crosses represent the nine dioceses that convened in         Philadelphia in 1789 when the Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church was adopted with its House of Bishops and House of Clerical and  Lay Deputies and the Book of Common Prayer. The nine cross-crosslets are set in the form of a St. Andrew's cross in memory of the fact that, to avoid swearing allegiance to the British Crown, Bishop-elect Samuel Seabury of Connecticut had to go to Scotland to be consecrated by Scottish bishops." 

 

Yes, but I think there is one more bit of symbolism here.  I believe the St. Andrew’s Cross also represents humility--something the church needs always and loses to its peril. For St. Andrew is said to have had a great love for the cross, longed for it and, in the end, embraced it. 

         

            When Andrew was led to the place of martyrdom, on beholding the cross from a distance he cried out: "O good Cross, so long desired and now set up for my longing soul I confident and rejoicing come to you; exultingly receive me, a disciple of Him who hung on you."  

 

May we, as we approach the season of Advent, follow the example of St. Andrew: his willingness to say “yes” to the summons to leave everything and follow Jesus; his willingness to bring others to Jesus and to allow them to overshadow him; and his humility in death,  as we celebrate the greatest act of humility--the coming of Jesus, Word-made-flesh, God-with-us, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.