Word to the Wise
Friday, January 23, 2026 - Friday in the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Sam 24:3-21 and Mark 3:13-19,387]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 cast out demons. [Mark]
The appointment of the twelve apostles was an indication of the growing success of Jesus' mission. The importance of the appointment is indicated by Jesus doing it on a mountain. Again and again in the gospels, big things happen on a mountain, as they did in the Old Testament. The list, in the light of subsequent events, was a mixed bag, to say the least. Peter and Judas both denied Jesus. James and John tried to gain superiority. Thomas was a skeptic, as was Nathanael (Bartholomew). Matthew (Levi) was an agent of the Roman tax authority - a tax collector!! Simon was a political activist. After Pentecost, we lose track of some of them in the scripture. Some traditions have Andrew preaching in Greece and Scotland! Others have Thomas preaching in India, and James in Spain. Judas was replaced by Matthias before Pentecost, but there was at least one other candidate as well. The decision was made by some form of strawing straws or throwing dice!
Pentecost could not have been a one-time event with such a group! The Holy Spirit has continued to guide the church through the centuries with incredibly diverse leadership! We profess our faith in an "apostolic" church each Sunday in recognition of the roots of our faith in the preaching of the apostles. But we are all "missionary disciples" and are charged with participation in the mission of the apostles whose leadership continues in the person of the Pope and bishops! The diversity of the first Twelve is continued in the diversity of the People of God - the Church! AMEN
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