Peter's Brother

Matthew's account of the recruitment of Peter and his brother Andrew has them leaving their nets and boats at the behest of Jesus to follow him, "Come after me and I will make you fishers of men" (Mt 4:19).  John has  Andrew and another disciple of John the Baptist spending an afternoon with Jesus and then telling Peter, Andrew's brother, that they had found the Messiah.  The next day, Andrew brought Peter to Jesus. (cf. Jn 1: 35-42).  Peter, James, and John accompanied Jesus to Mt. Tabor and to the Garden of Gethsemane, but Andrew was not included.  He assumed a quiet role among the Twelve, though he brought attention to the boy with the five barley loaves and two fishes in John 6: 8-9.  He seemed to avoid the spotlight and take care of practical details.  After Pentecost, tradition says he preached in Greece where he died a martyr upon an X-shaped cross, which adorns the flag of Great Britain today, since his relics were said to have been brought to Scotland.
There is a place for quiet folks behind the scenes among the followers of Jesus. Not all have to be great preachers or miracle-workers, but simply faithful care takers of details, or crumb sweepers.  If done in the spirit of St. Andrew, they might not merit a martyr's crown nor a national flag, but certainly a crown in heaven.
Bro Rene