Tuesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 438
Lectionary: 438
Brothers and
sisters:
As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
rooted in him and built upon him
and established in the faith as you were taught,
abounding in thanksgiving.
See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy
according to the tradition of men,
according to the elemental powers of the world
and not according to Christ.
For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily,
and you share in this fullness in him,
who is the head of every principality and power.
In him you were also circumcised
with a circumcision not administered by hand,
by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ.
You were buried with him in baptism,
in which you were also raised with him
through faith in the power of God,
who raised him from the dead.
And even when you were dead in transgressions
and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
he brought you to life along with him,
having forgiven us all our transgressions;
obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims,
which was opposed to us,
he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross;
despoiling the principalities and the powers,
he made a public spectacle of them,
leading them away in triumph by it.
As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
rooted in him and built upon him
and established in the faith as you were taught,
abounding in thanksgiving.
See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy
according to the tradition of men,
according to the elemental powers of the world
and not according to Christ.
For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily,
and you share in this fullness in him,
who is the head of every principality and power.
In him you were also circumcised
with a circumcision not administered by hand,
by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ.
You were buried with him in baptism,
in which you were also raised with him
through faith in the power of God,
who raised him from the dead.
And even when you were dead in transgressions
and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
he brought you to life along with him,
having forgiven us all our transgressions;
obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims,
which was opposed to us,
he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross;
despoiling the principalities and the powers,
he made a public spectacle of them,
leading them away in triumph by it.
R. (9) The Lord is compassionate toward all his
works.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Jesus departed to
the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.
A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people
from all Judea and Jerusalem
and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon
came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;
and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.
Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him
because power came forth from him and healed them all.
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.
A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people
from all Judea and Jerusalem
and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon
came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;
and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.
Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him
because power came forth from him and healed them all.
Meditation: A great crowd of disciples
was with Jesus
What is God's call
on your life? When Jesus embarked on his mission he chose twelve men to be his
friends and apostles. In the choice of the twelve, we see a characteristic
feature of God's work: Jesus chose very ordinary people. They were
non-professionals, who had no wealth or position. They were chosen from the
common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social
advantages. Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it
extraordinarily well. He chose these men, not for what they were, but for what
they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power. When the Lord
calls us to serve, we must not shrug back because we think that we have little
or nothing to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer
and uses it for greatness in his kingdom. Is there anything holding you back
from giving yourself unreservedly to God?Wherever Jesus went the people came to him because they had heard all the things he did. They were hungry for God and desired healing from their afflictions. In faith they pressed upon Jesus to touch him. As they did so power came from Jesus and they were healed. Even demons trembled in the presence of Jesus and left at his rebuke. Jesus offers freedom from the power of sin and oppression to all who seek him with expectant faith. When you hear God's word and consider all that Jesus did, how do you respond? With doubt or with expectant faith? With skepticism or with confident trust? Ask the Lord to increase your faith in his saving power and grace.
"Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Inflame my heart with a burning love for you and with an expectant faith in your saving power. Take my life and all that I have as an offering of love for you, who are my All."
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 Prayer and Action |
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Tuesday of the
Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
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Father Patrick Butler, LC
Luke 6: 12-19
Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and
he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples
to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip,
Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called
a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a
traitor. And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A
great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea
and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and
to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean
spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power
came forth from him and healed them all.
Introductory Prayer: God the Father, thank you for the gift of creation, including
my own life. God the Son, thank you for redeeming me at the price of your own
Body and Blood. God the Holy Spirit, thank you for being the sweet guest of
my soul, enlightening my mind, strengthening my spirit and kindling the fire
of your love in my heart.
Petition: Call me to you, Lord Jesus, and remind me of
my personal mission.
1. A Place and a Time for Prayer: Frequently the Gospel tells me that Jesus
prayed to his Father. What was his prayer like? First, he sought out a place
that is appropriate for praying. Secondly, he dedicated a significant amount
of time to prayer. I can see him climbing a mountain in order to spend an
entire night in prayer. I can certainly learn from my Lord’s example.
Imitating him, my prayer life can be enriched.
2. A Special Calling: Perhaps Jesus’ prayer is a bit longer than
usual on this occasion. When there is an important decision to be made, he
consults his Father to know his will. He does not improvise when calling
twelve of his followers to be his apostles, his “sent ones,” his representatives.
When Jesus calls me to do a special mission for his Kingdom, he also ensures
that it accords with the eternal plan of the Father.
3. A Channel for God’s Grace: Having spent the night in prayer, Jesus has
prepared himself to give generously of himself the following day. United to
his Father, the source of all good, his actions channel this goodness towards
those who are enslaved to evil spirits or in need of divine healing. Of
course, Jesus is God, and he has that power in himself by his own right. However,
he wants to give me an example of how to be a branch united to the vine, in
order to produce fruit that will last.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I do not know how to pray as I ought.
Teach me how to pray: to prepare a place and to set aside some time
exclusively for prayer. So often I act without praying, relying only on my
own ingenuity and intelligence. Make me see that I need your wisdom. Help me
to ensure, through prayer, that my actions are conformed to your will.
Resolution: I will strive to offer at least one
spontaneous prayer to God today, amid the activities of my daily life.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
LUKE 6:12-19
(Colossians 2:6-15; Psalm 145)
LUKE 6:12-19
(Colossians 2:6-15; Psalm 145)
KEY VERSE: "He called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also called apostles" (v 14).
READING: An "apostle" is one who shared in Jesus' mission and was sent forth by him with authority to proclaim the gospel. There are three lists of the Twelve in the Synoptic Gospels and one in the Acts of the Apostles. Each list is different in order (see below). Only Luke said that Jesus bestowed the title of "apostle" on those whom he chose. The Twelve were eye-witnesses to the ministry of Jesus from the time of his baptism to his ascension. This continuity guaranteed faithfulness to his teaching (Luke 1:1-4). Following Jesus' death, Peter, who always heads the list of apostles, stated the need to restore the number of the apostles to the full Twelve (Acts 1:15-26). After Pentecost, the term "apostle" had a wider application than just the Twelve (1 Cor 1:1, 9:1, 15:5-9). They were, like Paul, ambassadors of Christ given authority of pastoral service over the communities(Ro 1:1). The episcopacy (Office of Bishop) traces its succession to the authority Jesus conferred on the first apostles. The twelve are mirrors of ourselves, flawed but graced human beings.
READING: Pray for the Bishops of your Diocese.
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, thank you for calling each of us to share in your mission on earth
LISTS OF APOSTLES
Matthew: First, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. [Matt 10:2-4]
Mark: 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 Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. [Mk 3:16-19]
Luke: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called the Zealot, and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. [Lk 6:13-16]
Acts of the Apostles: Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James [Acts 1:13] and Matthias, chosen to take the place of Judas Iscariot who betrayed the Lord.
The Lord is compassionate to all his creatures.
Jesus
spent the whole night in prayer. When day came he picked out twelve and he
called them apostles.
It’s not difficult, Lord, to guess what you talked about that night in prayer with your Father. You were preoccupied with a momentous decision - the choice you were making of a small group to whom you could entrust the continuation of the mission your Father had given you. You had a certain twelve in mind, and you were asking the Father to confirm your choice.
Lord, daily we face difficult decisions. Sometimes we can feel lost and confused. Often we seem to make the wrong choice. Can that be because we have relied too much on our own weak human efforts? You have shown us the need to bring our problems to you and your Father in persevering prayer.
It’s not difficult, Lord, to guess what you talked about that night in prayer with your Father. You were preoccupied with a momentous decision - the choice you were making of a small group to whom you could entrust the continuation of the mission your Father had given you. You had a certain twelve in mind, and you were asking the Father to confirm your choice.
Lord, daily we face difficult decisions. Sometimes we can feel lost and confused. Often we seem to make the wrong choice. Can that be because we have relied too much on our own weak human efforts? You have shown us the need to bring our problems to you and your Father in persevering prayer.
September 22
St. Thomas of Villanova
(1488-1555)
St. Thomas of Villanova
(1488-1555)
St. Thomas was from Castile in Spain and received his surname from
the town where he was raised. He received a superior education at the
University of Alcala and became a popular professor of philosophy there.
After
joining the Augustinian friars at Salamanca he was ordained and resumed his
teaching–despite a continuing absentmindedness and poor memory. He became prior
and then provincial of the friars, sending the first Augustinians to the New
World. He was nominated by the emperor to the archbishopric of Granada, but
refused. When the see again became vacant he was pressured to accept. The money
his cathedral chapter gave him to furnish his house was given to a hospital
instead. His explanation to them was that "our Lord will be better served
by your money being spent on the poor in the hospital. What does a poor friar
like myself want with furniture?"
He wore
the same habit that he had received in the novitiate, mending it himself. The
canons and domestics were ashamed of him, but they could not convince him to
change. Several hundred poor came to Thomas's door each morning and received a
meal, wine and money. When criticized because he was at times being taken
advantage of, he replied, "If there are people who refuse to work, that is
for the governor and the police to deal with. My duty is to assist and relieve
those who come to my door." He took in orphans and paid his servants for
every deserted child they brought to him. He encouraged the wealthy to imitate
his example and be richer in mercy and charity than they were in earthly
possessions.
Criticized
because he refused to be harsh or swift in correcting sinners, he said,
"Let him (the complainer) inquire whether St. Augustine and St. John
Chrysostom used anathemas and excommunication to stop the drunkenness and
blasphemy which were so common among the people under their care."
As he lay
dying, Thomas commanded that all the money he possessed be distributed to the
poor. His material goods were to be given to the rector of his college. Mass
was being said in his presence when after Communion he breathed his last,
reciting the words: "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit."
Thomas of
Villanova was already called in his lifetime "the almsgiver" and
"the father of the poor." He was canonized in 1658.
Comment:
The absent-minded professor is a stock comic figure. This absent-minded professor earned even more derisive laughs with his determined shabbiness and his willingness to let the poor who flocked to his door take advantage of him. He embarrassed his peers, but Jesus was enormously pleased with him. We are often tempted to tend our image in others’ eyes without paying sufficient attention about how we look to Christ. Thomas still urges us to rethink our priorities.
The absent-minded professor is a stock comic figure. This absent-minded professor earned even more derisive laughs with his determined shabbiness and his willingness to let the poor who flocked to his door take advantage of him. He embarrassed his peers, but Jesus was enormously pleased with him. We are often tempted to tend our image in others’ eyes without paying sufficient attention about how we look to Christ. Thomas still urges us to rethink our priorities.
St. Salvius of Albi
Feastday:
September 10
Died:
584
Bishop
of Albi and a friend of Pope St. Gregory I the Great. Also called Sauve, he was
a native of Albi and, originally a lawyer, he entered a monastery and served
for a time as a monk before receiving election as abbot. Then, after, hying as
a hermit, he became a bishop, serving as shepherd of Albi from 574-584. He
reportedly died while caring for the sick during an outbreak of some epidemic.
He also ransomed prisoners and brought King Chilperic back to orthodox
teachings.
LECTIO: LUKE
6,12-19
Lectio:
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
ORDINARY TIME
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1) Opening prayer
God our Father,
you redeem us
and make us your children in Christ.
Look upon us,
give us true freedom
and bring us to the inheritance you promised.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
you redeem us
and make us your children in Christ.
Look upon us,
give us true freedom
and bring us to the inheritance you promised.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Luke 6,12-19
Now it happened in those days that Jesus went onto the mountain
to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he
summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them
‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John,
Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the
Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor.
He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples, with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases.
People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them all.
He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples, with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases.
People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them all.
3) Reflection
• The
Gospel today presents two facts: the choice of the twelve apostles (Lk 6,
12-16) and the enormous crowds who want to meet Jesus (Lk 6, 17-19). The Gospel
today invites us to reflect on the Twelve who were chosen to live with Jesus,
being apostles. The first Christians remembered and registered the name of
these twelve and of some other men and women, who followed Jesus and who, after
His Resurrection, began to create the communities for the world outside. Today,
also, all remember some catechists or persons, significant for their own
Christian formation.
• Luke 6, 12-13: The choice of the 12 apostles. Before choosing the twelve apostles definitively, Jesus spent a whole night in prayer. He prays in order to know whom to choose and then chooses the Twelve, whose names are in the Gospels and they will receive the name of apostles. Apostle means sent, missionary. They were called to carry out a mission, the same mission that Jesus received from the Father (Jn 20, 21). Mark is more concrete and says that God called them to be with him and he sends them on mission (Mk 3, 14)..
• Luke 6, 14-16: The names of the 12 Apostles. With small differences the names of the Twelve are the same in the Gospels of Matthew (Mt 10, 2-4), Mark (Mk 3, 16-19) and Luke (Lk 6, 14-16). The majority of these names come from the Old Testament. For example, Simeon is the name of one of the sons of the Patriarch Jacob (Gn 29, 33). James (Giacomo) is the same name of Jacob (Gn 25, 26), Judah is the name of the other son of Jacob (Gn 35, 23). Matthew also had the name of Levi (Mk 2, 14), the other son of Jacob (Gn 35, 23) Of the twelve apostles, seven have a name that comes from the time of the Patriarchs: two times Simon, two times, James, two times Judah, and one time Levi! That reveals the wisdom and the pedagogy of the people. Through the names of the Patriarchs and the matriarchs, which were given to the sons and daughters, people maintained alive the tradition of the ancestors and helped their own children not to lose their identity. Which are the names which we give our children today?
• Luke 6, 17-19: Jesus goes down from the mountain and people are looking for him. Coming down from the mountain with the twelve, Jesus finds an immense crowd of people who were trying to hear his words and to touch him, because people knew that from him came out a force of life. In this crowd there were Jews and foreigners, people from Judaea and also from Tyre and Sidon. These were people who were abandoned, disoriented. Jesus accepts all those who look for him Jews and Pagans! This is one of the themes preferred by Luke!
These twelve persons, called by Jesus to form the first community, were not saints. They were common persons, like all of us. They had their virtues and their defects. The Gospels tell us very little on the temperament and the character of each one of them. But what they say, even if not much is for us a reason for consolation.
- Peter was a generous person and full of enthusiasm (Mk 14, 29.31; Mt 14, 28-29), but at the moment of danger and of taking a decision, his heart becomes small and cannot go ahead (Mt 14, 30; Mc 14, 66-72). He was even Satan for Jesus (Mk 8, 33). Jesus calls him Rock (Peter). Peter of himself was not ‘Pietra’ - Rock, he becomes Rock (Pietra) because Jesus prays for him (Lc 22, 31-32).
- James and John are ready to suffer with and for Jesus (Mk 10, 39), but they were very violent (Lk 9, 54), Jesus calls them “sons of thunder” (Mk 3, 17). John seemed to have some sort of envy. He wanted Jesus only for his group (Mk 9, 38).
- Philip had a nice welcoming way. He knew how to put others in contact with Jesus (Jn 1, 45-46), but he was not too practical in solving the problems (Jn 12, 20-22; 6, 7). Sometimes he was very naïve. There was a moment when Jesus lost his patience with him: Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? (Jn 14, 8-9).
- Andrew, the brother of Peter and friend of Philip, he was more practical. Philip goes to him to solve the problems (Jn 12, 21-22). Andrew calls Peter (Jn 1, 40-41), and Andrew found the boy who had five loaves of bread and two fish (Jn 6, 8-9).
- Bartholomew seems to be the same as Nathanael. This one was from there and could not admit that anything good could come from Nazareth (Jn 1, 46).
- Thomas was capable of sustaining his own opinion, for a whole week, against the witness of all the others (Jn 20, 24-25). But when he saw that he was mistaken, he was not afraid to acknowledge his error (Jn 20, 26-28). He was generous, ready to die with Jesus (Jn 11, 16).
- Matthew or Levi was a Publican, a tax collector, like Zaccheus (Mt 9, 9; Lk 19, 2). They were persons who held to the system of oppression of that time.
- Simon, instead, seems that he belonged to the movement which radically opposed the system which the Roman Empire imposed on the Jewish people. This is why he was also called Zealot (Lk 6, 15). The group of the Zealots even succeeded to bring about an armed revolt against the Romans.
- Judah was the one who was in charge of the money in the group (Jn 13, 29). He betrayed Jesus.
- James, son of Alphaeus and Judas Taddeus. The Gospels say nothing of these two, they only mention their name.
• Luke 6, 12-13: The choice of the 12 apostles. Before choosing the twelve apostles definitively, Jesus spent a whole night in prayer. He prays in order to know whom to choose and then chooses the Twelve, whose names are in the Gospels and they will receive the name of apostles. Apostle means sent, missionary. They were called to carry out a mission, the same mission that Jesus received from the Father (Jn 20, 21). Mark is more concrete and says that God called them to be with him and he sends them on mission (Mk 3, 14)..
• Luke 6, 14-16: The names of the 12 Apostles. With small differences the names of the Twelve are the same in the Gospels of Matthew (Mt 10, 2-4), Mark (Mk 3, 16-19) and Luke (Lk 6, 14-16). The majority of these names come from the Old Testament. For example, Simeon is the name of one of the sons of the Patriarch Jacob (Gn 29, 33). James (Giacomo) is the same name of Jacob (Gn 25, 26), Judah is the name of the other son of Jacob (Gn 35, 23). Matthew also had the name of Levi (Mk 2, 14), the other son of Jacob (Gn 35, 23) Of the twelve apostles, seven have a name that comes from the time of the Patriarchs: two times Simon, two times, James, two times Judah, and one time Levi! That reveals the wisdom and the pedagogy of the people. Through the names of the Patriarchs and the matriarchs, which were given to the sons and daughters, people maintained alive the tradition of the ancestors and helped their own children not to lose their identity. Which are the names which we give our children today?
• Luke 6, 17-19: Jesus goes down from the mountain and people are looking for him. Coming down from the mountain with the twelve, Jesus finds an immense crowd of people who were trying to hear his words and to touch him, because people knew that from him came out a force of life. In this crowd there were Jews and foreigners, people from Judaea and also from Tyre and Sidon. These were people who were abandoned, disoriented. Jesus accepts all those who look for him Jews and Pagans! This is one of the themes preferred by Luke!
These twelve persons, called by Jesus to form the first community, were not saints. They were common persons, like all of us. They had their virtues and their defects. The Gospels tell us very little on the temperament and the character of each one of them. But what they say, even if not much is for us a reason for consolation.
- Peter was a generous person and full of enthusiasm (Mk 14, 29.31; Mt 14, 28-29), but at the moment of danger and of taking a decision, his heart becomes small and cannot go ahead (Mt 14, 30; Mc 14, 66-72). He was even Satan for Jesus (Mk 8, 33). Jesus calls him Rock (Peter). Peter of himself was not ‘Pietra’ - Rock, he becomes Rock (Pietra) because Jesus prays for him (Lc 22, 31-32).
- James and John are ready to suffer with and for Jesus (Mk 10, 39), but they were very violent (Lk 9, 54), Jesus calls them “sons of thunder” (Mk 3, 17). John seemed to have some sort of envy. He wanted Jesus only for his group (Mk 9, 38).
- Philip had a nice welcoming way. He knew how to put others in contact with Jesus (Jn 1, 45-46), but he was not too practical in solving the problems (Jn 12, 20-22; 6, 7). Sometimes he was very naïve. There was a moment when Jesus lost his patience with him: Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? (Jn 14, 8-9).
- Andrew, the brother of Peter and friend of Philip, he was more practical. Philip goes to him to solve the problems (Jn 12, 21-22). Andrew calls Peter (Jn 1, 40-41), and Andrew found the boy who had five loaves of bread and two fish (Jn 6, 8-9).
- Bartholomew seems to be the same as Nathanael. This one was from there and could not admit that anything good could come from Nazareth (Jn 1, 46).
- Thomas was capable of sustaining his own opinion, for a whole week, against the witness of all the others (Jn 20, 24-25). But when he saw that he was mistaken, he was not afraid to acknowledge his error (Jn 20, 26-28). He was generous, ready to die with Jesus (Jn 11, 16).
- Matthew or Levi was a Publican, a tax collector, like Zaccheus (Mt 9, 9; Lk 19, 2). They were persons who held to the system of oppression of that time.
- Simon, instead, seems that he belonged to the movement which radically opposed the system which the Roman Empire imposed on the Jewish people. This is why he was also called Zealot (Lk 6, 15). The group of the Zealots even succeeded to bring about an armed revolt against the Romans.
- Judah was the one who was in charge of the money in the group (Jn 13, 29). He betrayed Jesus.
- James, son of Alphaeus and Judas Taddeus. The Gospels say nothing of these two, they only mention their name.
4) Personal questions
• Jesus
spends the whole night in prayer to know whom to choose, and then he chooses
those twelve. Which conclusions can you draw?
• Do you recall the persons who began the community to which you belong? What do you remember about them: the content of what they taught or the witness they gave?
• Do you recall the persons who began the community to which you belong? What do you remember about them: the content of what they taught or the witness they gave?
5) Concluding Prayer
They shall dance in praise of his name,
play to him on tambourines and harp!
For Yahweh loves his people,
he will crown the humble with salvation. (Ps 149,3-4)
play to him on tambourines and harp!
For Yahweh loves his people,
he will crown the humble with salvation. (Ps 149,3-4)
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