Imagine growing up in the shadow of one who appears larger than life in almost every description of him - one who seems to always have captured the camera's eye - one who seems always to have something say, even if not always the right thing, or for the right reason. To be Peter's younger brother likely brought its own set of issues - long before they ever were met by Jesus! And even then, he is was just on the outside edge of the inner circle.
It is fascinating, then, on this the Feast Day of St. Andrew, to take a closer look at the few stories we have - and to notice what he does from his place in the shadow. The apparent set of his heart is suggested by the fact that he was an early follower of John the Baptist's ministry of "preparing the way" for Messiah's coming by means of repentance. Andrew was one of the two standing with him when John let them know that Jesus was the one for whom they had been preparing. Apparently without a moment's hesitation, Andrew's response was to leave John and begin to follow Jesus - who invited him to come and see where he was staying. It was not long before Andrew does what we see him doing often - bring people to Jesus. In this case, it is his older brother - apparently trusting Andrew's audacious claim that they had found the Messiah!
Following a rabbi in those days wasa kind of entry for consideration to be included among his disciples - so it is no surprise that sometime later, when he was back home in the north, Jesus comes across Andrew and Peter fishing and invites them to follow him. In leaving their boat and nets, they walked away from everything that has previously defined them - their past, their security, their future - enticed by his belief that they could become like him! It is pretty clear that it takes them a while to figure out what kind of Messiah - what kind of Rabbi - he is... but Andrew is in from the beginning - and bring others along with him.
So it is not at all out of character when Andrew is the one who brings a boys whose sack lunch of five barley loaves and two fish, offered to Jesus, becomes enough to feed thousands of people on a remote hillside in northeast Galilee. I can't imagine what it was about Andrew that convinced that boy to give up his lunch - but it does suggest something about him that, once again, others were willing to trust him - and to follow him to Jesus. We see it again at the pivotal moment heading into the final week of Jesus' life. It is to Andrew that Phillip comes, having been approached by a group of Greeks in Jerusalem for Passover - but who wanted to see Jesus. Phillip seems to know that Andrew is the guy you go to get people to Jesus.
Grateful for the people like Andrew, who don't get top billing, who are known mostly by association, who live in the shadow - but who show up - and who can be trusted to bring people to Jesus. I want to like that.
