November 30: Saint Andrew the Apostle

The Collect of the Day

Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your SonJesus Christ, and brought his brother with him: Give untous, who are called by your Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God, who didst give such grace to thine apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of thy Son Jesus Christ, and brought his brother with him: Give unto us, who are called by thy Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Deuteronomy 30:11-14 or Deuteronomy 30:11–14
Psalm 19 or Psalm 19:1-6
Romans 10:8b-18 or Romans 10:9–18
Matthew 4:18-22 or Matthew 4:18–22

Most biographical notes on this Apostle begin “Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother,” and he is so described in the Gospels. Identifying Andrew as Peter’s brother makes it easy to know who he is, but it also makes it easy to overlook the fact of Andrew’s own special gift to the company of Christ. The Gospel according to John tells how Andrew, a disciple of John the Baptist, was one of two disciples who followed Jesus after John had pointed him out, saying, “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). Andrew and the other disciple went with Jesus and stayed with him, and Andrew’s first act afterward was to find his brother and bring him to Jesus. We might call Andrew the first missionary in the company of disciples.

Though Andrew was not a part of the inner circle of disciples (Peter, James, and John), he is always named in the list of disciples, and the Gospel of Matthew records Jesus’ calling them from their occupation, and their immediate response to his call. Andrew was also the disciple who brought the boy with the loaves and fishes to Jesus for the feeding of the multitude.

We hear little of Andrew as a prominent leader, and he seems always to be in the shadow of Peter. Eusebius, the early church historian, records his going to Scythia, but there is no reliable information about the end of his life. Tradition has it that he was fastened to an X-shaped cross and suffered death at the hands of angry pagans. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland.

Lessons and Psalm

First Lesson

Psalm

¹The heavens declare the glory of God, *and the firmament shows his handiwork.

²One day tells its tale to another, *and one night imparts knowledge to another.

³Although they have no words or language, *and their voices are not heard,

⁴Their sound has gone out into all lands, *and their message to the ends of the world.

⁵In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber; it rejoices like a champion to run its course.

⁶It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens and runs about to the end of it again; *nothing is hidden from its burning heat.

⁷The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; *the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the innocent.

⁸The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart; *the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light to the eyes.

⁹The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; *the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

¹⁰More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, *sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.

¹¹By them also is your servant enlightened, *and in keeping them there is great reward.

¹²Who can tell how often he offends? *cleanse me from my secret faults.

¹³Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not get dominion over me; *then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense.

¹⁴Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, *O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Psalm

¹The heavens declare the glory of God, *and the firmament shows his handiwork.

²One day tells its tale to another, *and one night imparts knowledge to another.

³Although they have no words or language, *and their voices are not heard,

⁴Their sound has gone out into all lands, *and their message to the ends of the world.

⁵In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber; it rejoices like a champion to run its course.

⁶It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens and runs about to the end of it again; *nothing is hidden from its burning heat.

Epistle

Gospel

⁸But what does it say? “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. ¹¹The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” ¹²For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. ¹³For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” ¹⁴But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? ¹⁵And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” ¹⁶But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” ¹⁷So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. ¹⁸But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”