It's St Andrew's Day and Scotland rejoices! So does the Church throughout the world as it keeps the great apostle's Feast.
Famous for bringing his brother Peter to the Lord, Andrew ranks after Peter and Paul as a great Christian hero. He even has a special X Shaped cross. The tradition is that he died spread-eagled on a cross to associate himself with his Master, just as Peter is said to have been crucified upside down out of humility.
In the first reading St Paul speaks of the welcome footsteps of those bringing good news and how that news has gone out through all the earth as evangelists have succeeded the apostles generation after generation.
That good news centres on the coming, life, teaching, healing and miracles of Our Lord succeeded by his death upon the Cross and his rising again. Through that Cross God, the maker of all things, has bound himself forever to humankind. Christ’s resurrection underlines the extraordinary action of God’s love revealed in taking human flesh and, as one of us, giving himself up to death for all of us. How can we doubt, as Christians, the dignity of human beings exalted by our Maker above all things? Destined to immortal life as the image of God in us grows towards his likeness in the glory to come?
St Andrew headed to that destiny bearing a special Cross evident in the Scottish flag. Crosses look fine in church in the stories of the Saints - but when they come our way – well that's a different matter! ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me’ Jesus tells us (Mark 8:34). The things that land on us – the difficult neighbour, the physical ailment, the inner pain of emotional loss – these are blessings in disguise. As it once said outside the florists "crosses made to order". Indeed they are – our trials we have to make the most of.
Crosses made to order, as God has permitted or even, dare we say, directed. For Andrew it was the cross of spread-eagled martyrdom. For us it has been, is and will be different sorts of trials but we can be sure that the Lord Jesus who appoints our crosses has our crowns in mind as He does so.
God has bound himself to us forever by the Cross of which this service is a living memorial. As we receive Holy Communion we accept with it the gift of the Cross through the hardships of life, take courage and lift our heads to move forward into paths he has prepared for us which can make us holy like him.
Thank you, Lord, for the courage you gave St Andrew to bear his cross. We ask your help in the trials you set before day by day in Jesus' name. Amen.
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