RBWords

     Anytime Jesus goes up a mountain, we know something important is about to happen.  The choice of location is deliberate in the story because God's dealings with the People of Israel and the giving of the covenant took place on a mountain. The number twelve is not coincidental either.  On Mount Sinai, God constituted the twelve tribes of Israel as the Chosen People.  The list of names varies in the gospels but the number twelve remains constant and is important enough that Judas was replaced soon after Jesus' resurrection. [Acts 2:15-26].  Peter and the Sons of Zebedee are given new names, which marked them as especially close collaborators. (cf. Abram/Abraham Gen. 17:5 and Jacob/Israel Gen. 32:29).  Most of them would disappear into the mists of history and tradition.  What is important is that there were twelve and that "they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons."  The title, "Apostle," would remain important because it implied a personal experience with Jesus and a mission to preach the gospel.  St, Paul would lay claim to the title in 1 Corinthians 9 because of his experience on the road to Damascus!  Tradition gives the title to Mary Magdalen, "Apostle to the apostles," because she saw the Risen Lord and he sent her to tell the Twelve of his resurrection.

     In the official "creeds" of the Church (Nicene, Apostles' Creed, Athanasian, and Paul VI), we profess our belief in a church that is "apostolic."  Although we do not personally inherit the title, "Apostle," we do share with the "seventy-two others" the title "disciple." [Luke 10:1-12].  We receive our appointment when we are baptized.  Pope Francis has reminded all the baptized of their mission to preach the gospel and take care of "the sick and wounded."  We are part of something that began very small and is now very great. AMEN