No One Makes It Alone

James W. Moore shares this story. Back in the 15th century in a tiny village near Nuremberg, Germany there lived a family with eighteen children. That's right... eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this large family, the father (who was a goldsmith by profession) worked almost eighteen hours a day at this trade and any other paying job he could find in the neighborhood. Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of the older children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father, with all that he had on him, would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Art Academy there. After much discussion, the two boys finally worked out a plan. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the Art Academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies in four years, he would in turn support the other brother at the academy either with sales of his art work, or, if necessary, also by working in the mines. So, one Sunday morning after church, they tossed a coin. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg to study art. His brother, Albert, went down into the dangerous mines and for the next four years, financed his brother whose work at the Art Academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht Durer's etchings, his woodworks, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works. When the young artist returned home to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant homecoming. After a delightful meal with lots of music and laughter, Albrecht Durer rose from his honored position at the head of the table to express his deep appreciation to his beloved brother, Albert, for the years of sacrifice he had put in that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were: "And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream and I will take care of you." All heads turned in love and eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat. Tears were streaming down his face.
Slowly, Albert stood to his feet and softly he said, "Thank you, my brother, but no I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look, look what four years in the mine have done to my hands. The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately, I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less, make delicate
lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, my brother, for me it is too late." More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer's hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durer's
works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office. One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply "Hands", but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to this great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love, "The Praying Hands." The next time you see a copy of this touching creation, take a second look; let it be a reminder that no one... no one ever makes it alone! Now, we turn to today’s gospel. If it was not for Andrew, Peter’s brother, we might not have had the man who became a leader of the faith in Jesus. The truth is we are incredibly indebted to Simon Peter's brother, Andrew, for the gift of Peter to the church and to the world. Andrew was the one who brought his brother, Simon Peter, into the presence of Jesus. Andrew was the one who encouraged Simon Peter. Andrew was the one who introduced Peter to Jesus. We heard it all in today’s gospel reading. Andrew finds the Messiah and then quickly runs to share the good news with his brother, Simon. In many ways, Andrew was an ordinary man. And there is little in Sacred Scripture attributed to him. Remember: no one ever makes it alone! Who has helped you to grow in life and faith? And who in turn, have you helped to do the same?