The Call of St Andrew
Sunday of the Word of God with Canon William Maclean of Stornoway. We also provide a list of some resources to help you get the best out of your Bible. Our Lesser Spotted Saint is St Euchadius of Iona
Last week we read the passage in John’s Gospel where Andrew finds Jesus and, suitably impressed by him, calling him the Messiah, brings his brother Simon to meet him. The rest, as they say, is history.
This week we have a very different account of the same event, or so it would seem. In Mark’s Gospel, Simon and his brother Andrew are casting a net in the lake as Jesus walks by. He calls them, they leave their nets at once and follow Jesus. Each account is so different that it makes us wonder if one is true and the other false; if that were the case, especially so blatantly, surely it would invalidate the idea that all the Gospels are the truth. And like a balloon, once you have pricked one hole in it, the whole thing collapses. There has to be a good explanation.
I ducked that question last week, saying that I didn’t want to get into that argument when I had a different homily to preach, and the week before I was explaining how it is a good exercise to stick with one Gospel, rather than to cherry-pick comments and quotes from all of them to illustrate a point. But it is an equally valid exercise to take a horizontal cross-section through the Gospels to see what each is saying about the same story, the same teaching, or the same event. None of the Gospels tells exactly the same story, although Matthew, Mark and Luke are seen ‘through the same eye’, hence the name ‘Synoptic’ is used to describe them.
Some Gospel passages are easy to interpret, especially when they are only included in one or two of the Gospels. But the calling of the first apostles is so central to the message of the Gospel, that it is naturally going to be in all four. So, we have four different accounts of the same event, do we? Or is something else happening here? I think it’s time to dig out my synopsis of the Four Gospels (and blow the dust off it).
Looking at the four Gospels’ account of the calling of Andrew (and Peter), we see that Matthew and Mark are almost identical. This indicates that they have the same source, and it is generally agreed that Mark is the source, and Matthew and Luke used Mark plus other material. So, we can politely ask Matthew to leave the room. His witness is the same as Mark’s. John’s story is completely different. The most puzzling is Luke’s; similar enough to have echoes of Mark’s account, but with enough of his own features to be confusing. To say that Luke ‘added’ bits gives the impression that he fabricated part of his story to fit his theology, or to show something of the character of Peter or Andrew. That would be unfair. I think the best way to see it is to say that the story comprises both fishing and net-washing, and a crowd of listeners, and that Mark has compressed the story into what he saw as essential; Luke has more of the story, including the crowd, the catch, and the conversation with Simon. It is clear from Luke’s account that this is not Jesus’ first encounter with Simon; he has, after all, already healed his mother-in-law. The chapter before, he casually says, “Jesus went to Simon’s house, where his mother-in-law was sick with fever” (4:38). Also, “He got into one of the boats, it was Simon’s” (5:3). Jesus already knew Simon and Andrew. Mark also shows familiarity: “As he was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw Simon and Andrew” (1:16). That brings us to John’s story.
John’s account (which we read last Sunday) is very different. John the Baptist is standing with Andrew and another of his disciples as Jesus went by. John took the opportunity to point Jesus out to them, and the two disciples followed him. There is a clear indication that this is a first encounter. John has to point out Jesus to Andrew and his friend; they address him formally as ‘Rabbi’, and they do not know where he lives. It appears that John’s encounter comes first. Even when Simon meets Jesus, it does not say he followed him. Perhaps he went home, went out fishing with Andrew, and caught nothing all night, which leads on to the events of the next day; the miraculous catch, and Jesus calling them to follow Him.
The key point, which John highlights at the end of his Gospel, “there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would have to be written (21:25). Each Gospel is a snapshot of the life and mission of Jesus. Each one should contain enough to bring us to belief. And we have four of them, like layers of fabric one over the other. We have plenty of material for our faith. Of course, there are slight variations in some of the stories; the Gospels were not intended to be written down. The Early Church only started writing things down when it became clear that the Second Coming was not going to be in their generation, and they needed to record their testimony. Over 50 years that is always going to be a bit fuzzy. But it is a good exercise to take a passage that is attested in all four Gospels, especially one that looks contradictory, and to be able to see that the thread of truth does not get in a knot. The eyes of faith allow us to see clearly what we need to see; that Jesus is the Son of God, our Saviour, and He calls us to follow Him, just as He called Andrew and Peter.
Canon William Maclean | Our Holy Redeemer Stornoway
At the end of the Jubilee Year of Mercy Pope Francis established the third Sunday of Ordinary time to be devoted to the study and dissemination of Sacred Scripture. In this Special Corcle edition we will just include some good resources, both local and global, for your continued journey into the Word.
Bibles
Not all Bibles are created equal, not all translations or formats work for everyone but here is a list of some the best on the market at the moment… The Great Adventure Bible from Ascension Press. This is a thematic bible that covers salvation history from Genesis through to Acts. A bible that will give you a wider knowledge of what God did and is doing.
Ignatius Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition. A very popular version, all 73 books with some foot notes. This would not though be considered a study bible. If you want a study bible then the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible produced by Scott Hahn is what to look at. They have produced a number of individual studies for many of the books of the Bible.
It is also worth noting the English Standard Version - Catholic Edition was approved in Scotland last July to be the basis of the new lectionary. The ESV is a hugely popular version amongst Protestants - very clear, readable and is known as a literal translation.
Bible Translation: Word for Word vs Thought for Thought
One thing to consider when buying or reading your bible is the type of translation it is. Word for word seeks to render the text in English as close to the original wording as possible. For some, this is viewed as the most accurate way to translate for obvious reasons. But the problem is when there is no English equivalent - which there are many. Hebrew words (and many other languages) can convey quite complex meanings in a way that English words cannot. The translator then has to see where and how the same word was used in other parts of the Bible gaining the context that gives them an idea of what it means.
Thought for thought can then be seen as a soloution to this. In this method the translators gather up as best as possible the meaning of the word rather than the specific word or words. In this way what the author was trying to get across can be made readable and understandable to the modern reader.
Which one is best? Everyone has a view - I think both have there place. If you can, get both types. Word for Word would include the RSV, NRSV, and ESV versions. Thought for thought might include The Message Bible - Catholic Edition.
My Bible is bigger than yours!
You may know that the Protestant Bible has 66 Books and we have 73. If you want to know why watch this Pints with Aquinas episode with Matt Fradd and Bible Scholar Gary Michuta.
Study Aids
So you have your Bible - but where do you start? Thankfully there is a tonne of help out there. Here is just a few ideas.
The St Paul Centre, founded and lead by Scott Hahn through its Journey Through Scripture Programme provides both written and digital resources to help you grow in your knowledge of Scripture. The St Paul site also has many other resources, publications and videos that would be of interest.
The Ogilvie Centre for Evangelisation and Catechesis is running one of the St Paul Centre programmes - Genesis to Jesus at the moment and will be running it consecutively through the year. Please click here to see what it is all about and if you are interested contact the Sisters in the Ogilvie Centre. It is free to participate online, and for a very small amount you can buy a course book for it.
Word on Fire Ministries, founded by Bishop Robert Barron has a huge wealth of videos and writing that will help you gain more from your Bible and general knowledge of Catholicism. He did the hugely popular and seminal series Catholicism followed by Pivotal Players. There is a lot to help you on this site!
General Aids
For other more general help for your faith, go to the roughbounds website where I have compiled a number of very useful links that you may find helpful.
If you are looking for courses, please read an article written last year by our own Caireen Ros on the various institutions out there to help you. Click here. Please note, if you are a member of the Diocese of Aberdeen there is a discount for those who wish to study at the Catholic Distance University.
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St Euchadius A.D 597
St Euchadius was one of St Columba’s 12 disciples that crossed the Irish Sea to Iona in their mission to convert the Northern Picts. It is possible he worked in Galloway as he received veneration there, although it could just have been his relics was placed there. He was also said to have written the ‘Acts of St Columba’. Little more is known about this Saint but I think we can be thankful for his work and his own desire to follow the will of God in his life.
If you have missed any past Coracles you can click here. Most of our past articles are on the roughbounds website as well as talks from Bishop Hugh Gilbert and the Highland Mens Conference.
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God Bless from Eric and Team