Friday of the
Second Week in Ordinary Time
(Hebrews 8:6-13; Mark 3:13-19)
Some have tried to provoke an argument by saying that
Jesus did not found the Church. They
propose Paul as the more logical founder.
Of course, Jesus did not create the orders of bishops and priests. And he certainly never established the Roman
bureaucracy. But the four gospels do
indicate that he had an organizational structure in mind. Today’s gospel pictures him acting quite intentionally
to build a basis for his mission of preaching.
The passage notes that Jesus climbs a mountain evidently
alone. There, like the President-elect
selecting his cabinet, he calls up twelve disciples to join him. These are to become not just an inner group
of advisors but are to prepare themselves to go out and preach. The twelve are named in order of
prominence. Peter with a gift for proclamation
is the first mentioned. Second, James
and John, who also are recognized for their locutions, are noted. Then the others are named. The last, of course, is Judas Iscariot, who
does not lack ability but who will do the mission irreparable harm.
Perhaps the people who want to sell Jesus short on an
organizational plan have difficulty appreciating how capable he is. They see him with limitations like the rest
of us. But the four gospels indicate
that he is a man like no other. He does
everything well – preach, organize, give of himself freely. We are grateful to have been called to be his
followers.
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