Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle
Scripture:
Romans 10:9-18
Matthew 4:18-22
Reflection:
Our feet are amazing. They enable us to stand and not fall over. With our feet we dance, play football or kick the can. Some people stand in the footlights, get a foothold or are just footloose.
There are footmen, foot soldiers and footnotes. Sometimes we put our best foot forward, put our foot in your mouth, foot the bill or live in the foothills.
Yes, our feet are amazing. The most amazing thing about feet, be they small or big, dainty or calloused, is that they can be…the feet of Christ.
It was Teresa of Avila who said that. She said, “Christ has no body but yours… Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
In our first reading today Paul quotes from Isaiah, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings.”(Isaiah 52:7) We read these words on today’s feast of St. Andrew, the Apostle.
Yes, it was the apostles who first heard the call of Jesus to “Come after me.” They answered with their whole being, including their feet, and walked with him. Later they would walk miles upon miles announcing the good news.
As we linger in the glow of Thanksgiving, let us look with gratitude at our beautiful feet. May we continue to walk with the Lord and, with the apostles, announce the good news with our words and deeds.
Fr. Alan Phillip, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California. www.alanphillipcp.com/