GOSPEL POWER - JANUARY 22, 2021 - FRIDAY

SAINT VINCENT OF SARAGOSSA - DEACON AND MARTYR

Gospel: Mk 3:13-19 

Jesus went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Then he went home.

REFLECTION

To be “with Jesus” does not simply mean physically staying in his company. It implies much more than participating in his mission. It involves sharing in his hard choices and destiny as the suffering Messiah, being united with him in obeying the Father’s will to the point of Calvary. This deep implication of “being with Jesus” must be why Mark carefully notes that Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, that is, he abandoned the cause for which Jesus had chosen him, yet he remained in his company until Jesus was arrested. In the crisis of Calvary, the other apostles also faltered due to the natural human dread of peril and threat to life. But they did not close the door of their hearts to Jesus. In this episode, we are confronted with the mystery of human freedom, which is capable of rejecting the plan of God and pursuing its self-serving agenda. To be chosen, therefore, is not only a privilege but a serious responsibility

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, by virtue of our baptism, we have also been chosen. With your grace, help us to abide with you. Amen.