Commemoration of the Miracle Performed at Colossus in Chone by the Archangel Michael; Holy Martyr Eudoxius and His Companions (284- 305); Our Venerable Father Archipus.
Galatians 3:15-22; Mark 6:7-13.
Read Mark 6:7-13
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Today’s gospel reading begins with Jesus sending out His disciples “two by two” and giving them power over unclean spirits (Mk. 6:7). Jesus was able to heal and cast out unclean spirits by His own power and authority, but He shared His power and authority with the Twelve. Although Mark’s gospel simply says that the disciples were sent out “two by two,” Matthew’s gospel provides pairs of names, perhaps indicating which disciples traveled together. Matthew mentions “first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him” (Mt. 10:2-4). The names of the Twelve are not always consistently recorded in the scriptures, but it is significant that there are Twelve chosen men who had different roles than other disciples.
Just as Jesus gave the disciples power over unclean spirits in today’s reading, He also commissioned them and gave them power at other moments in scripture too. At the end of Matthew’s gospel, after rising from the dead, Jesus commissions the eleven remaining disciples after Judas’ death. He tells them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Mt. 28:18-20). Towards the end of John’s gospel, after rising from the dead and appearing to the disciples in the upper room, Jesus tells them again, “‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’” (Jn. 20:21-23). At the Mystical Supper, Jesus sat down with the Twelve, “and He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ Likewise He also took the cup after supper saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you’” (Lk. 22:19-20).
At various moments in scripture, we hear Jesus sending out the Twelve to preach, baptize, heal, cast out demons, forgive sins, and offer His Body and Blood in remembrance of Him. The apostles conferred this power and authority to others by the “laying on of hands.” At the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, we read about Matthias being selected to replace Judas among the Twelve (see Acts 1:15-26). After Jesus’ Ascension, the apostles knew to continue their ministry, and they realized Judas’ place ought to be filled. Later in Acts, we read about a man called Simon who was a sorcerer: “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 8:18-19). Peter then rebuked Simon for attempting the sin of simony. Even Simon the sorcerer realized the apostles had the authority from Christ to confer the Holy Spirit.
As the apostles performed their ministry, they didn’t do so as lone wolves. They were sent out “two by two” and sought the support of their community. Today, we must likewise support our clergy and everyone in ministry. They continue the mission of the Twelve in our present age and provide us with the Sacraments so that we may grow in grace and receive salvation in Christ.