St Agnus | Friday 21 January 2022

Today is Friday the 21 January, the feast of St Agnus, in the 2nd week of Ordinary time.


The monks of Pluscarden Abbey sing: Ego vos elegi. ‘I have chosen you out of the world, so that you might go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last.’ As I listen to this chant, I remind myself that God calls me, calls me by my name.
However unsuitable or unworthy I may think I am, God has chosen me.


Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.



Mark 3:13-19

He 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.

What do you make of the names and nicknames given to the 12? Do they tell us anything of Jesus
’ attitude to them?


What name does Jesus use for you?

Now listen as the passage is read again; what are apostles called to do? What are you called to do?

Finally, how are you feeling just now before God? Could you gather your feelings into a prayer to God? What will you say?

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.