The mission of the Twelve

MARK 6:7-13

JESUS summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick — no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

REFLECTION GAVE THEM AUTHORITY.

Jesus may easily use His power to do everything all by Himself. But He chooses to delegate and share his tasks with the Twelve, getting them involved in the mission. He sends them out with almost nothing except the power and authority He has given them.

In what way do we share in the work of Christ today, and in what way can we collaborate with one another? Or have we become concerned only with our personal “salvation”? There is so much to do in our Christian communities. Do we bother to find out how we can participate and contribute to the realization of the tasks?

The Spirit has empowered us and given us a share in the Lord’s plan for the revelation of God’s Kingdom. Can we imagine how much good we can do if all of us, believers, take active part in the work of the Church or our local communities? Let us not leave this task only to priests and religious, otherwise our being baptized means very little. Real followers of Jesus use their power to effect changes in the community. Do we give of our time to further the goals of our Christian community? Or do we focus only on our personal interests?

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2018,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: books@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.