Erl Purnell Sermon

St. Andrew Sunday ~ November 18, 2007 ~ A sermon preached by The Rev’d Erl G. Purnell at Old St. Andrew’s Church, Bloomfield, CT

Deuteronomy 30.11-14; Psalm 19.1-6; Romans 8b-18; Matthew 4.18-22

Andrew. Good old Andrew. Let me take a minute to tell you a bit about what is known and unknown about the patron saint of our parish. By the way, in the Greek, he is known as Andreas. As was common with the Greek and Jewish names of the time, Andreas has a meaning: it’s manhood or valor. There is no equivalent to the name Andreas in either Hebrew or Aramaic.

First and foremost, Andrew shows up in chapter 1 of Mark’s Gospel, right after Jesus comes out of the wilderness. In what we’ve just heard, Matthew quotes Mark almost exactly: “As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Luke, however, who also used Mark’s Gospel as the basis of his own story, took the opportunity of Andrew and Peter’s connecting with Jesus to introduce the whole team of Apostles.

John’s gospel purports that Andrew was born in Bethsaida (John 1.42) on the sea of Galilee (John 1.44). Of course, since the gospels are not pure history, we can’t be certain of this. We do know, however, that his older brother was named Simon and that, later, Jesus renamed this character Peter. Andrew and Simon and his wife evidently lived together in the town of Capernaum on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. The brothers, like many in that sea-side community, made their living by fishing. John’s Gospel also says that Andrew had been a disciple of John the Baptist.

Perhaps it will surprise you that Andrew’s name is mentioned only twelve times in the four canonical gospels. Besides what is recorded in the gospels, all other information about Andrew is apocryphal—which means a story or statement of doubtful authenticity although widely circulated as being true (Apple dictionary). For example, tradition claims that “Andrew preached in Asia Minor and Scythia, along the Black Sea and as far as the Volga and Kiev.” He is supposed to have founded the church of Byzantium which later became the see of Constantinople.

Andrew “is said to have been martyred by crucifixion at Patras in Achaea, on a cross of the form called Crux decussata (the X-shaped cross).” This cross has become known as the St. Andrew’s cross.

Buried at Patras, Andrew’s remains were later taken to Constantinople, then were given to the Pope in Rome in 1461, and finally returned to Constantinople in 1964 on orders of Pope Pius VI, or so the story goes.

Andrew is revered throughout Christendom and is patron saint of Scotland, Russia, Sicily, Greece, Romania, Almalfi, Malta, and Prussia. And, if responsibility as patron for all those places isn’t enough, Andrew is also expected to watch over Army Rangers, mariners, fishermen, fishmongers, rope-makers, singers and performers. November 30 is St. Andrew Day, although we’re celebrating his patronage here today.

So what difference does any of this make? I guess it depends upon your personal point of view. Does Andrew’s story matter to you? Do you feel a loyalty to Andrew? From what you know of him, does Andrew inspire you? How? Why? Are you partial to Scotland and so associate yourself with Andrew through that well-known patronage? Is your affinity towards Andrew connected to this parish church?

This is the second St. Andrew’s Church of which I’ve been a member. The first was St. Andrew’s, Kent. I was a member, growing up, of a St. Michael’s. When I lived in Maine, I joined St. Margaret’s. My seminarian placement was at Grace and St. Peter’s. After my ordination, I served as Curate at St. Paul’s in Riverside. So, its been Michael, Margaret, Andrew, Grace & Peter, Paul, and Andrew.

Quite frankly, I like Andrew because the association with my two Andrew churches has been really good. The people have been good, the spirit of the places uplifting, and the communities pleasant. For what it’s worth, I can’t think of an Andrew I haven’t gotten along with, so that’s another positive. Some of you know that I’m a bit of a Scotland lover, too. And, who doesn’t like the blue and white St. Andrew flag of Scotland? It’s just damn pretty! Let’ see, what else? Oh, have I mentioned bagpipes? I love bagpipes. Of course, bagpipes are associated with Scotland, and Scotland with Andrew, so, if he could have, I’ll bet Andrew would have played the bagpipes or at least liked them.

And [Jesus] said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” What do I like about Andrew? I like that he followed his gut and threw in his lot with Jesus. He saw something in Jesus—I’m quite sure he knew Jesus long before Jesus said, “Follow me”—that he, too, wanted to have. Jesus inspired him. In Jesus, Andrew must have seen new possibilities and opportunities, a fresh way to look at the world, the chance to have an adventure and to make a difference.

You know, some things never change. New possibilities and opportunities? A fresh look at the world? Adventure? Making a difference? It occurs to me that Jesus’ call—Follow me—might still invite you and me, even one who knows little about the Jesus story, to learn more. Who was this Jesus? Why did Andrew and his brother and the others drop what they were doing and pick up a new life, a new way of Being because he said, “Follow me”?

Andrew, from the get-go, and in the end, is the archetype of one open to new life, to a God-centered life of service and selflessness. Andrew is one willing to release his grip on the comfortable and the known in order to help shift inertia and change the status quo of his day. In our time, it’s Andrew who speaks for universal health care, affordable housing, really good education and job training. It’s Andrew who’s at the corner of Main Street and Farmington Avenue in West Hartford on Saturday mornings at 11.30 and calling for an end to the war. Andrew is the one who visits the nursing home, gives food to the Hispanic Mission, and send gifts to children in Haiti.

Andrew, our patron saint.

Amen.

Portions of the information about Andrew came from Wikipedia.