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Gospel: Mark 1: 14-20
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Then they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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I’m sure we all have a favorite picture, framed and hanging on a wall inside our home.
Mine is a picture of Jesus. It hangs in my living room. I see it every time I walk in through the front door, reminding me of his love for me – and mine for him.
One thing we probably never think about is the nail behind the picture frame. Once it goes into the wall, the nail is no longer visible. Naturally, we forget about it.
But without that nail, your picture frame would slide down the wall and crash on the floor, splitting the wood and shattering the glass.
In that sense, a nail serves two purposes: it brings two separate objects together – like a picture frame to a wall – and it provides enduring support.
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In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls the first of his disciples, one being Andrew, the brother of Peter. While much could be said about each of these men, just a brief word on Andrew.
Think of him like a nail.
He will connect more people with Jesus than anyone else in the Gospels. One might think, because of his zeal, he will be rewarded with becoming a valued member of Jesus’ inner circle, like his brother, Peter.
But he won’t be. Even more, it is Peter, not Andrew, who will be given the keys to the kingdom.
Andrew could’ve been resentful, but he didn’t seem to mind at all.
His purpose was not to take center stage, but to connect people with Jesus then fade to the background while providing enduring support, much like a nail connecting a frame to a wall.
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As we begin another week, and another year, perhaps we can ponder two things:
How do we model Andrew’s humility? And how might we connect others with Christ?
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Image credits: (1) Pantocrator, Sinai (2) Popular Mechanics (3) Prayers and Petitions