15th October 2022

For years, Brother Andrew, whose recent ‘call to glory’ is being marked and honoured around the world, was known as ‘God’s smuggler’. The moniker became the title of a written account of his adventures in ferrying Bibles to believers behind the iron curtain. It was a name however that he wished hadn’t stuck, for it involved him in countless debates about the ethics of taking Bibles across the borders of countries where the Book was considered contraband.

Heaven however will tell many stories, and will one day relate the stories (plural) of those in communist lands who received a page or portion of sacred text from the boot of his blue beetle, and whose hearts were changed and filled with faith and hope. And in the process, were held back from all those things that darken a soul and morally impoverish a nation.

The ‘smuggler’ has now gone to glory, but I doubt that the border crossing into Paradise was done quietly in the boot of some angelic automobile, but with great fanfare and with trumpets to alert every cherubic guard. St Jude at the close of his letter describes the scene: “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy”, and the prophet Daniel says this: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever”.

DM 15^th October 2022