Many of you probably remember "The Billy Graham Crusades" of the last century. Billy Graham was an evangelist, well known by millions of Christians worldwide. His ministry had an outreach program entitled, "Operation Andrew." This was a large and very effective evangelization program that would go into action just prior to a crusade in any major community. The purpose and scope of "operation Andrew" was to invite others to the local crusade, and then later BRING them to "Church." It was staffed by those who would be willing to go from house to house and from person to person.

It was simple -- yet very effective. Through this means of simply telling others about a place where they could listen to the Gospel, there were hundreds of thousands of souls who responded to the Gospel message through the work of this great evangelist. Many of those people eventually became Catholics, coming to the fullness of the Faith. It's amazing how God works through the "Andrews" of the world! But it's not just "the other guy" who is called to be like St. Andrew. We are all called, through our baptism, to be Andrews.

I mention this because there was something about Andrew that is of particular interest to each of us. As we heard in today's gospel, the scriptures tell us that John the Baptist was standing with Andrew and another of his disciples; and as Jesus walked by, he proclaimed, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" Andrew listened ATTENTIVELY to John the Baptist and followed Jesus. Andrew followed Jesus to where he was staying -- stayed with Jesus that day -- and I'm certain he listened ATTENTIVELY to His preaching as well -- and as a result realized that Jesus was the Messiah. . He then went seeking his brother, Simon -- most likely in a very excited manner and proclaimed to him, "WE have FOUND the MESSIAH!!" I'm sure he had a lot more to tell Simon about Jesus that the scriptures do not record. Regardless, He brought him to Jesus; Jesus gave Simon a new name; Peter, the ROCK; and the rest is Catholic history.

The peculiar thing about Andrew, that is of interest to us, is found in our first reading.

In the First Book of Samuel, we heard that …. God was calling out to Samuel, who was not familiar with the Lord, because the Lord had not yet revealed anything to him. After being awakened three times by the young Samuel, Eli realized what was going on and gave the best advice anyone could give. He told Samuel, the next time you are called, reply, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." Samuel did just that and as the scriptures tell us, he grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting ANY word of his to be without effect.

In other words, from that moment on, Samuel listened ATTENTIVELY to the Lord. As a result, none of his words were without effect. The exact same phenomenon happened to Andrew. He listened attentively to what was proclaimed -- first by John the Baptist and then by Jesus -- and then his words were not without effect. He went and told his brother, who also was drawn to Jesus to become a disciple and eventually the chief Apostle and first pope. All because someone listened ATTENTIVELY.

and so, close your eyes and let us respond to the word of God…RESPONSE

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." [Mark 12:30] RESPONSE

"and you shall love your neighbor as yourself." [Mark 12:31] RESPONSE

"…love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." [Mat 5:44] RESPONSE

Jesus proclaimed, "I am THE way and THE truth and THE life. No one comes to the Father except through me." [John 14:6] RESPONSE

"Jesus said, Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day." [John 6:54] RESPONSE

"Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?" [1 Cor 6:18-19] RESPONSE

"…live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace…" [Eph 4:1-3] RESPONSE

"I urge you … by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. [Rom 12:1-2] RESPONSE

"Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. [Eph 5:8-9] RESPONSE

"See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good both for each other and for all. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing." [1 Th 5:15-17] RESPONSE

"Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence…" [1 Pet 3:15-16] RESPONSE

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations …teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." [Mat 28:19-20] RESPONSE