St Andrew, is revered as the ‘Protokletos’ – a Greek word meaning the first disciple (called by Jesus), – yes, called even before St Peter. Andrew, the fisherman thought Jesus was an amazing prophet, maybe even the new ‘Messiah’ and then selflessly rushed to his brother fisherman Simon to share the treasured news with him.

Thus began the public ministry of Jesus with the training of his followers. Simon Peter, Andrew and the ten apostles. Together they all recognized something in Jesus that was very new, exciting, revolutionary, even epoch making for Palestine and the world. Jesus seemed to be entrusting his message to them and their followers – and eventually to you and me.

After Jesus crucifixion, Christianity was outlawed continuously by Rome for three hundred years and Andrew was condemned to be crucified like his ‘Master’. So humble was Andrew that when  the unbelievers came to kill him by crucifixion, he begged that they crucify him on a  X shaped cross as he felt unworthy to die as Jesus, his Master did. (This is also commemorated in the Westland Row Parish church. Andrew was never much into self-promotion in fact, he would be very surprised, and I suspect a bit embarrassed that we in Dublin dedicated our basilica-like church in Westland Row to his name. But we did!

(Pope Francis recently wrote in a ‘letter to a non-believer’ – 4 September 2013).

‘For me faith is an encounter with Jesus.
It was a personal encounter that touched my heart
and gave new direction and meaning in my life.
Jesus, in fact impacts us, shocks us, renews us’