Homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great: St. Andrew: 5th on the Gospels.

Dearly beloved brethren, ye hear how that Peter and Andrew, having once heard the Lord call them, left their nets, and followed their Savior. As yet they had seen none of His miracles, as yet they had received no promise of their exceeding and eternal reward; nevertheless, at one word of the Lord they forgot all those things which they seemed to have. We have seen many of His miracles; we have often received many of His gracious chastening; many times hath He warned us of the wrath to come and yet Christ calleth and we do not follow.

 

He who calleth us to be converted is now enthroned in heaven; He hath broken the necks of the Gentiles to the yoke of the faith, He hath laid low the glory of the world, and the wrecks thereof, falling ever more and more to decay, do preach unto us that the coming of that day when He is to be revealed as our Judge is drawing nigh and yet, so stubborn is our mind, that we will not yet freely abandon that which we lose day by day.

 

Dearly beloved brethren, we must consider here rather the intention than the loss incurred by this obedience. He that keeps nothing for himself, giveth up much; he that sacrifices his all, sacrificed what is to him a great deal. Beyond doubt, we cling to whatever we have, and what we have least, that we desire most. Peter and Andrew therefore gave up much when they gave up even the desire of possessing anything.