Sharing the Word for January 19, 2018

Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

January 19, 2018

Daily Reading from the USCCB: Mark 3:13-19

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/SW_012210_II.mp3

In this reading from Mark’s third chapter, we see Jesus calling twelve men to a special place among His disciples.

The number twelve seems intended to recall the twelve tribes of Israel. So these twelve apostles represented the new people of God.

They were called by name by Jesus to be “apostles,” i.e., emissaries. To be that, they had to know Jesus. So they were to be with him, to become close to Him, so as to be able to present Him accurately to others.

Jesus authorized them to preach in His name and to drive out the spirits of evil when they encountered them.

In today’s Church, bishops are seen as successors of the apostles. They too are official emissaries for Jesus.