(first century) Andrew was a fisherman from Bethsaida, Galilee, a disciple of Saint John the Baptist, and the brother of Simon Peter. Andrew is credited with noticing the boy with five loaves and two fish in John 6, leading to the miraculous multiplication of food. He was a missionary evangelist who led many people to Jesus, both before and after the crucifixion. The Byzantine Church honors Andrew with the nickname, “Protokletos,” which means “the first called.” Tradition holds that Saint Andrew was martyred on an X-shaped cross in Patras, Greece.
Pope Benedict XVI said in his General Audience on June 14, 2006, “The Apostle Andrew, therefore, teaches us to follow Jesus with promptness (cf. Matthew 4:20; Mark 1:18), to speak enthusiastically about him to those we meet, and especially, to cultivate a relationship of true familiarity with him, acutely aware that in him alone can we find the ultimate meaning of our life and death.” The “relationship of true familiarity” is what we seek in Step 11. The enthusiastic sharing is our model in Step 12.
“We have found the Messiah” (Saint Andrew, John 1:41).
Reflection by Brad Farmer