Festival of St. Andrew, Apostle
Posted on November 30, 2022 by under
Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25 (NKJV)
10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Devotion
The lack of videographic evidence of where St. Andrew preached serves Christ’s Church well: personal visitation by an apostle, or the lack thereof, has no bearing on the authenticity of one’s faith, or any superior authority of one local congregation over another. Instead, all must rely on God’s Word as the source and norm of our teaching—remembering, though, “that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:20–21).
One place we can be sure St. Andrew proclaimed Christ is Achaia—because they killed him for it there. He was crucified by order of the Roman governor. He was possibly bound to the cross, instead of nailed, so that his suffering might be prolonged (and, thus, the possibility of his falling away from Christ heightened). Andrew remained faithful, knowing well the teaching and faithfulness of his Lord. Having been washed by the pure and purifying water of Holy Baptism, having been gathered to hear Jesus and to proclaim Jesus, he died in the full assurance of faith.
Verse 22 is used in our liturgy to bring us to confess and be absolved, so may that absolution continue to uphold us in confessing this faith, that others may receive this same sprinkling, and their evil conscience may be made good (1 Pet. 3:21).
Prayer: Thy Word, O God, is our great heritage and shall be ours forever; to spread its light from age to age let be our chief endeavor. Through life it guides our way, in death it is our stay. Lord, grant, while worlds endure, we keep its teachings pure throughout all generations. Amen. (cf. TLH #283)
Collect for the Festival of St. Andrew, Apostle
O Lord, we humbly implore Thee that as Thine Apostle Saint Andrew did heed the call of Thy Son Jesus Christ, Thou wouldst grant us Thy grace to serve Thee faithfully in our various vocations; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Ad te levavi, The First Sunday in Advent
Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins, and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
