Feast of Saint Andrew!

Happy Feast Day!

Today marks an unprecedented event in my stay in Rome: being out significantly early this morning, I witnessed the Trevi Fountain . . . without tourists! These photos document the unheard of situation of the fountain not being swarmed by flocks of bystanders. Even when I've gone out for a morning run around 6:00 there have been early strollers passing by.

That's called the street, in front of the fountain. It's rarely seen.

It was raining gently when I took these photos.

Quite an appropriate feast day today, actually, as Saint Andrew's Academy arrived from California yesterday evening for their tour of Italy. The small Anglican school is unfortunately afflicted with having me as a quasi-tour guide during their days in the Eternal City, and certainly with my monologue it will feel like an eternity . . .

Saint Andrew's feast day of course also comes at a pivotal time in the year, as we have just celebrated (we as in Americans, to clarify) Thanksgiving, which redirects our vision to God's providence and allows us to appreciate again the abundance we've been given.

Immediately following we celebrated (we as in Catholics, to clarify) the feast of Christ the King (of the Universe, as it's written here in Italy--nice appellation to have: I know that guy, by the way) last Sunday: a reminder of all things being encompassed in the scope of the Alpha and Omega, who defines the importance, or triviality, of all things.

And now as our liturgical readings reflect the end of our year with themes of the return of the Messiah, we are poised for the beginning of Advent this next Sunday. The readings of Advent point first to the Second Coming of the Messiah, and as the days go by, return to his first coming. These are days which offer peace, so our hearts can be reconfigured in light of these realities--rather than remaining turbulent with the eroding distractions which bring destruction.

How sad so many squander these days straining to fulfill the demands of a consumer holiday.

Andrew told his brother Simon, "We have found the Messiah." And Simon with Andrew, as Mark shows us, was able immediately to leave everything having found the Christ. May Andrew's intercession bring us that same freedom as the light of the Messiah cascades upon us.