Holy Martyr Myron (249-51)
2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5; Mark 3:13-19
Post-feast of the Dormition
Read Mark 3:13-19
The Catholic Church is sometimes accused of falsely claiming to have abilities that belong to God alone. However, today’s gospel passage clearly shows us that Jesus appointed twelve specific individuals to exercise particular tasks such as preaching and performing exorcisms. Jesus appoints them to exercise other ministries elsewhere in Scripture such as forgiving sins, celebrating the Eucharist, and baptising the world, amongst others. Jesus, Who is God, has the authority to confer this power to whomever He chooses.
Among the people Jesus called to ministry was Judas Iscariot. Although Judas will be forever notorious for betraying Jesus, the other apostles were also sinful men. It is amazing to ponder that God could entrust divine authority and power to weak, sinful men. This is exactly what He did and what He continues to do to this day.
The naming of the twelve apostles in the scriptures is significant. The number “twelve” draws one’s mind to think of the “twelve tribes of Israel” which over time became divided. Jesus’ mission was one of unifying what was separated. He desires that His followers “may all be one” (Jn. 17:21), and this desire for unity is expressed in choosing twelve apostles to represent the restoration of the twelve tribes of Israel. The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles at Pentecost and united them to become the Church, and we who are members of this Church must also guard and protect our unity with one another. It is definitely a challenge to achieve unity with others who are weak and sinful like we ourselves are, but we know this unity is possible by the grace of God.