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 drive out demons.

Mark 3:14-15

Mark 3:13-19

Reflection

Jesus goes up on a mountain and summons the twelve men he will appoint as the Apostles. They are Simon, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot.

Jesus appoints the Twelve Apostles not only to be with him and learn from him, but to go out preaching themselves and have authority to drive out demons. Our relationship with Christ needs to similar – not only do we need to sit with him in prayer and learn from him, but we also must go out and perform good works, spreading the Gospel and Christ’s love to those around us.

Being a disciple of Christ is not a passive lifestyle. While we should take time in prayer to simply receive, we must also act upon God’s word. If the Twelve Apostles never went abroad to preach and convert people, the Church would probably not exist in the form it does today. Likewise, we are each uniquely called to go out and spread the Gospel, sacrificing our lives for the sake of Christ. How is Jesus calling you to do this today?

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Saint of the Day

St. Marianne Cope: 1838 – 1918

“I am hungry for the work, and I wish with all my heart to be one of the chosen ones, whose privilege it will be, to sacrifice themselves for the salvation of the souls of the poor islanders.” St. Marianne Cope