feast of St. Andrew the apostle

The Word went fishing by the sea

where trolled the nets of Galilee;

borne on the wind, his call fell fair

on hearts of folk who labored there.

They left their nets and boats behind

for fishing of another kind.

The Word had left high heaven's home

to gather fam'ly of his own,

as mother, brother, sister claimed

all those who loved his Father's Name:

they set aside the ties that bind

for family of another kind.

The Word abandoned life and breath

to wrest the world from living death.

With nets and homes and dreams at stake,

the fishers followed for love's sake.

They left their very lives behind

for living of another kind.

O Word, along our troubled shore

where hungry shoals fall prey before

nets thrown by other hands than yours,

cast nets of love whose power endures:

draw us to leave all else behind

for you, the Life of all our kind!

(The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew, by Duccio)

hymn from Magnificat, November 2012