Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
Lectionary: 438
Lectionary: 438
St.Peter Claver |
Brothers and
sisters:
How can any one of you with a case against another
dare to bring it to the unjust for judgment
instead of to the holy ones?
Do you not know that the holy ones will judge the world?
If the world is to be judged by you,
are you unqualified for the lowest law courts?
Do you not know that we will judge angels?
Then why not everyday matters?
If, therefore, you have courts for everyday matters,
do you seat as judges people of no standing in the Church?
I say this to shame you.
Can it be that there is not one among you wise enough
to be able to settle a case between brothers?
But rather brother goes to court against brother,
and that before unbelievers?
Now indeed then it is, in any case,
a failure on your part that you have lawsuits against one another.
Why not rather put up with injustice?
Why not rather let yourselves be cheated?
Instead, you inflict injustice and cheat, and this to brothers.
Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the Kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived;
neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers
nor boy prostitutes nor sodomites nor thieves
nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers
will inherit the Kingdom of God.
That is what some of you used to be;
but now you have had yourselves washed, you were sanctified,
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
and in the Spirit of our God.
How can any one of you with a case against another
dare to bring it to the unjust for judgment
instead of to the holy ones?
Do you not know that the holy ones will judge the world?
If the world is to be judged by you,
are you unqualified for the lowest law courts?
Do you not know that we will judge angels?
Then why not everyday matters?
If, therefore, you have courts for everyday matters,
do you seat as judges people of no standing in the Church?
I say this to shame you.
Can it be that there is not one among you wise enough
to be able to settle a case between brothers?
But rather brother goes to court against brother,
and that before unbelievers?
Now indeed then it is, in any case,
a failure on your part that you have lawsuits against one another.
Why not rather put up with injustice?
Why not rather let yourselves be cheated?
Instead, you inflict injustice and cheat, and this to brothers.
Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the Kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived;
neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers
nor boy prostitutes nor sodomites nor thieves
nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers
will inherit the Kingdom of God.
That is what some of you used to be;
but now you have had yourselves washed, you were sanctified,
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
and in the Spirit of our God.
R. (see 4) The Lord takes delight in his people.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
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: Power
came forth from Jesus to heal all
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?
Approach
Jesus with expectant faith
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.
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."
Prayer and Action |
September
9, 2014. Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
|
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.
By
Father Patrick Butler, LC
|
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, LUKE 6:12-19
(1 Corinthians 6:1-11; Psalm 149)
(1 Corinthians 6:1-11; Psalm 149)
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 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 Pope and for the Bishops of your Diocese.
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, thank you for calling each of us to share in your mission on earth.
NOTE: 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.
Memorial of Peter Claver, priest
A Jesuit from age 20, Peter Claver was influenced by St. Alphonsus Rodriguez to become a missionary in America. Peter ministered, physically and spiritually, to slaves when they arrived in Cartegena, converting a reported 300,000, and working for humane treatment on the plantations for 40 years. He organized charitable societies among the Spanish in America similar to those organized in Europe by Saint Vincent de Paul. Peter said of the slaves, "We must speak to them with our hands by giving, before we try to speak to them with our lips."
The Lord takes delight in his people
Jesus was a man of prayer and we often hear of him withdrawing at
night to pray.These vigils preceded significant events and the naming of the apostles from among the group was one of those moments. Each responded to Jesus’ call—one immersed in prayer and healing presence can be hard to resist. We look at the disciples and ask, why would they want to resist Jesus? Imagine being in his presence. You wouldn’t even think to say no. Which raises the question—are we as ready and eager to respond to the call of Jesus as we assume his disciples were? Jesus is no less present to us. The call for faithful people to bring light and healing to the world is as powerful today as it was then. Do we choose to listen and respond?
MINUTE
MEDITATIONS
Spiritual Mother
Loving Father, may the prayers of the Virgin Mary bring us closer
to Christ and the Church. Through her intercession may we participate in the
sacraments more actively and dedicate ourselves to witness Christ’s kingdom of
love, justice, and mercy. Thank you, God, for giving us Mary as our spiritual
mother.
September
9
St. Peter Claver
(1581-1654)
St. Peter Claver
(1581-1654)
A native of Spain, young Jesuit Peter Claver left his homeland
forever in 1610 to be a missionary in the colonies of the New World. He sailed
into Cartagena (now in Colombia), a rich port city washed by the Caribbean. He
was ordained there in 1615.
By this
time the slave trade had been established in the Americas for nearly 100 years,
and Cartagena was a chief center for it. Ten thousand slaves poured into the
port each year after crossing the Atlantic from West Africa under conditions so
foul and inhuman that an estimated one-third of the passengers died in transit.
Although the practice of slave-trading was condemned by Pope Paul III and later
labeled "supreme villainy" by Pius IX, it continued to flourish.
Peter
Claver's predecessor, Jesuit Father Alfonso de Sandoval, had devoted himself to
the service of the slaves for 40 years before Claver arrived to continue his
work, declaring himself "the slave of the Negroes forever."
As soon
as a slave ship entered the port, Peter Claver moved into its infested hold to
minister to the ill-treated and exhausted passengers. After the slaves
were herded out of the ship like chained animals and shut up in nearby yards to
be gazed at by the crowds, Claver plunged in among them with medicines, food,
bread, brandy, lemons and tobacco. With the help of interpreters he gave basic
instructions and assured his brothers and sisters of their human dignity and
God's saving love. During the 40 years of his ministry, Claver instructed and
baptized an estimated 300,000 slaves.
His
apostolate extended beyond his care for slaves. He became a moral force,
indeed, the apostle of Cartagena. He preached in the city square, gave missions
to sailors and traders as well as country missions, during which he avoided,
when possible, the hospitality of the planters and owners and lodged in the
slave quarters instead.
After
four years of sickness which forced the saint to remain inactive and largely
neglected, he died on September 8, 1654. The city magistrates, who had
previously frowned at his solicitude for the black outcasts, ordered that he
should be buried at public expense and with great pomp.
He was
canonized in 1888, and Pope Leo XIII declared him the worldwide patron of
missionary work among black slaves.
Comment:
The Holy Spirit's might and power are manifested in the striking decisions and bold actions of Peter Claver. A decision to leave one's homeland never to return reveals a gigantic act of will difficult for us to imagine. Peter's determination to serve forever the most abused, rejected and lowly of all people is stunningly heroic. When we measure our lives against such a man's, we become aware of our own barely used potential and of our need to open ourselves more to the jolting power of Jesus' Spirit.
The Holy Spirit's might and power are manifested in the striking decisions and bold actions of Peter Claver. A decision to leave one's homeland never to return reveals a gigantic act of will difficult for us to imagine. Peter's determination to serve forever the most abused, rejected and lowly of all people is stunningly heroic. When we measure our lives against such a man's, we become aware of our own barely used potential and of our need to open ourselves more to the jolting power of Jesus' Spirit.
Quote:
Peter Claver understood that concrete service like the distributing of medicine, food or brandy to his black brothers and sisters could be as effective a communication of the word of God as mere verbal preaching. As Peter Claver often said, "We must speak to them with our hands before we try to speak to them with our lips."
Peter Claver understood that concrete service like the distributing of medicine, food or brandy to his black brothers and sisters could be as effective a communication of the word of God as mere verbal preaching. As Peter Claver often said, "We must speak to them with our hands before we try to speak to them with our lips."
Patron Saint of:
African-Americans
Colombia
African-Americans
Colombia
LECTIO DIVINA:
LUKE 6,12-19
Lectio:
Tuesday, September 9, 2014 (All day)
ORDINARY TIME
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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