Sacred Scripture
Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”(Matthew 10:1-7)
Reflection
What an interesting group of people Jesus chose to be His first emissaries. Different walks of life, different educations, different accents.
They were non- professionals, had no wealth or position. They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary things. Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it extraordinarily well. He chose these men, not for what they were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power.
That should not come as a surprise. After all, Jesus Christ lived a public ministry of doing extraordinary things. And this Lord, who loves to transform and change, also worked wonders with the Twelve!
These Twelve, with their varied personalities and characters, were handed on the Charge to continue the Gigantic Task of their Daring Master: “To be the Ambassadors of the Kingdom of God”. To be with Him and to be sent out. To have authority over unclean spirits and drive them out. To cure every disease and illness and to preach! These chosen lights were to cast their rays over the rest of humanity, in all nations.
The message for us? He is willing to transform us! The only thing that He needs from us is Our Consent, Our Willingness, Our Openness! Let’s not allow our self-perceptions to get in the way of answering His call. If we pause long enough, and listen long enough, we will hear His call to each of us. Further My Kingdom. Right where you are now, live my Gospel and by doing so, be my light.
Yes, the Lord is calling you and me, the Lord is desiring you and me, the Lord is wanting you and me.
Are we hearing? Let this not remain a Missed Call! Let’s pick up, and answer. and co-operate with the Our Lord who calls us to “Dare to be Different”!
Prayer of The Day
“Lord, you have chosen me to be your disciple. Take and use what I can offer, however meager it may seem, for the greater glory of your name.”
Daily Note
Our vocation as an apostle, is not a question of our wanting to be one. It is not a question of our talents or compelling feelings for this or that, but of our faith-driven awareness of God asking and our responding. Why are we where we are now in our vocation in life? In our particular marriage? In a particular lay movement? We can never know fully, for only God knows the depths of his own wisdom. This is the first mystery of the Kingdom that touches each one of us personally: God called, he willed it, and we said “yes.” This is the only answer we should seek. Anything else slows down the mission and interrupts the dialogue of love and service to the mission.
