The commissioning of the twelve By Matthew 10:1-7 Published: July 10, 2013 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 Him. 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.’ ” REFLECTION Jesus summoned His twelve disciples. The Gospel speaks of the choice of the Twelve by Jesus. This is a momentous event in the history of salvation and the formation of God’s people of the New Covenant. The Twelve are to be the representatives of the New Israel. Each is personally chosen, called by name, to be part of a community of apostles called the Twelve in the New Testament. We all know eleven of the original Twelve to be saints, but one of them, Judas Iscariot, is described as the one “who betrayed Him.” He is a reminder that each of us, though also chosen by Christ to be His disciples -apostles, can also betray Him. May we remain faithful to Jesus who has called us. SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord 2012,” .
Posted on: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 17:19:32 +0000