Andrew was an apostle of Jesus and the brother of Saint Peter. He was born between AD5 and AD10 in Bethsaida in Galilee, on the sea of Galilee where he and his brother were fishermen by trade. Hence, Jesus summoned them to become his disciples by telling them: "I will make you fishers of men."St John's gospel tells us that Andrew was also a disciple of John the Baptist, who led him to follow Jesus. Andrew immediately recognised the Messiah and hastened to introduce him to his brother. In fact, the Byzantine church calls Andrew "the first called". From then on the two brothers were disciples of Christ.Historians of the early church insist Andrew travelled widely preaching the gospel of Christ with claims he reached as far west as the Black Sea and Kiev. From there he travelled to Novgorod in Russia.Andrew is believed to have been martyred by crucifixion in Patras in southern Greece in AD60. Relics of St Andrew are kept at the Basilica of St Andrew in Patras, the Amalfi Cathedral and Sarzana Cathedral in Italy, the Church of St Andrew and St Albert in Warsaw as well as St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh.St Andrew is, of course, the patron saint of Scotland and the St Andrew's cross (saltire) forms the flag of Scotland and a part of the Union Jack. But other nations make claims to St Andrew for his divine inspiration. Georgia acclaim him as the first preacher of Chritianity to visit their land.In Cyprus they claim that St Andrew visited their island when his ship was blown off course. They say that on reaching shore Andrew struck the rocks with his staff and that a spring of healing water gushed forth.Today he is officially seen as the patron saint of Barbados, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and Scotland. So the Scots don't have an exclusivity on their patron saint.
My favourite psalm is 131. It’s a short, tender and intimate song. It reflects the outpouring of a mature faith, expressed in humility, trust and wisdom. After the aspirations and arrogance of youth, the psalmist has found peace, like the contentment of a weaned child. The three qualities and prayers of the psalm have been at the forefront of my mind in the last week or so.Humility has been noticeably absent in the church, we realise, in just glimpsing the vast resource of <em>Living in Love & Faith</em>, published last week. I’m ashamed of the homophobia experienced by so many people. I hope you will join me in committing yourself anew to listening more deeply to God and others and playing your part in a humbler conversation about human sexuality.Trust has been further shattered through the harrowing <em>IICSA Report</em> published a few weeks ago. Safeguarding is at the heart of the Gospel. Whilst I don’t expect to regain the trust of some, I hope you will join me in committing yourself anew to listening more deeply to God and courageous victims or survivors, and playing your part in ensuring a safer, more trustworthy church.Wisdom is rather late to the Creationtide party - highlighted at our diocesan synod last week. I was aghast at the fact that by 2030 the effects of <em>climate change</em> will have plunged another 120 million people into abject poverty. Again, I hope you will join me in committing yourself to listening more deeply to God and scientists and playing your part in being environmentally wiser.I received an email from one of my colleagues this week who understandably feels rather overwhelmed by these agendas: ‘With all that’s going on at the moment, I don’t know if I have capacity to change people’s attitudes to human sexuality, embrace all the implications of IICSA and solve climate change… certainly not if you want it all done before Christmas!’.My sense is that this is not all about doing but being, becoming and mature faith. Let's pray that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we may be transformed into a church which, reflecting the psalmist, is more humble, trustworthy and wise. Much of this is rooted in repentance, listening and judgement: appropriate themes on the threshold of Advent.Archdeacon Paul
