RBWords

     When I look at the list of the Twelve, I realize that Jesus was sending "lost sheep" after "lost sheep!"  Although the number "twelve" is important because of the idea that this "new" Twelve (the apostles) is destined to save the "old" Twelve (the twelve tribes of Israel), the twelve that Jesus chose are a "motley krewe."  Yet the very mission that Jesus gave to them is one that will save them too!  They must represent in their very preaching and conduct that kingdom that Jesus came to inaugurate!  Furthermore, their primary audience was to be their fellow Jews since most of Matthew's community initially did not see themselves as separate from Judaism.  Later on in the Gospel of Matthew, we see Jesus speaking of non-Jewish believers, and St. Paul radically extended the mission to the Gentiles.    Indeed, the church, at least since the Second Vatican Council (cf. Nostra Aetate) takes a dim view of efforts to convert Jews to Christianity.  However, that does not mean we cannot share our faith with our Jewish brothers and sisters as we do with everyone.  Our roots are the same!

     I take comfort in the fact that Jesus called people who had to struggle to understand what he would try to teach them - the impulsive Peter, who would deny him, the politically conniving sons of Zebedee (James and John), Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot!  Mind you, Judas took part in all of this!  We stand on their shaky shoulders, but we also have to listen to Jesus' instructions to them about what it means to be an "itinerant preacher!"  The job description which will come in the gospel passage for Thursday this week may scare us, but our baptismal faith is Jesus' summons to us, just as he summoned the Twelve!   AMEN