Word to the Wise
Friday, January 23, 2009 - Friday in the Second Week in Ordinary Time
[Hebrews 8:6-13 and Mark 3:7-12]Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons......
The Gospel of Mark is systematically presenting the story of Jesus' ministry. After being baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus establishes himself as a healer and wonder-worker with droves of people coming to see him. He is also presented as being in opposition to the religious and civil (Herodians) leadership. Now, in order to continue his ministry, he needs to have some trusted helpers. The process of choosing them is vastly different from the cabinet selection process of our civil government! There are distinct Old Testament elements in the story. Jesus goes up a mountain, like Moses, where he chooses his trusted "people" (as God chose the Jews) and appoints The Twelve (as God chose the twelve tribes of Israel). However, just like any process of choosing associates, we know that The Twelve, for all their exalted and subsequent importance to the Church, showed themselves to be less than dependable at times. Jesus consistently berates them for their lack of faith! Perhaps when we are feeling less than positive about decisions made by Pope or Bishop or pastor or other ecclesiastical authority, it may help (at least a little) to remember that Jesus chose very human characters to be his associates - not plaster of paris statues of the sort we Catholics are fond of. He entrusted them with carrying out his mission. Their successors in office have shown themselves to be every bit as human as the first appointees. When they forget they are supposed to be in humble service to the Body of Christ, they need the regular membership to call them to account, just as the regular membership needs to be occasionally reminded of the essential message of Jesus by those who are the successors of his original choices. The group included fishermen, a tax collector, a political zealot, two ambitious brothers,and an eventual betrayer! But they are no more "motley" than those who have come after them! AMEN
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