Friday 22 January 2021

Today is Friday the 22 January, in the Second Week of Ordinary Time

Josh Garrels with the Porter’s Gate sings, ‘Christ Has No Body Now but Yours’.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 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.

The Twelve were sent out “to proclaim the message”.  What do you think that message is?  - Jesus’s message for people today?  How would you put it into words?  or deeds?

‘Christ has no arms but ours,’ wrote Saint Teresa; ‘no hands, no legs but ours.’  As Christ sent out the apostles then, so too today Christ invites us to use our hands and arms and legs to proclaim and live out his message.  How might I use mine?

As you listen again, notice that phrase “those whom he wanted”, and ask yourself, “Do I believe Jesus invites me to be with him?  Do I believe Jesus invites me by name?

The Apostles were given a special calling, a particular vocation.  But God has a purpose for every one of us, for every human life.  How do you see your own calling?  Can you talk with the Lord about this?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.