Reading
Mark 3:13-19
13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve[a] that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Meditation
The mountain is often associated in the Gospels with solemn acts of Jesus' (the "Sermon on the Mount" and the proclamation of the Beatitudes; the multiplication of the loaves and fishes; the transfiguration).
The choice of the twelve apostles by Jesus is exercised with full sovereignty, and the use of the Greek verb ételen, which leads us to translate the passage as "those he wanted", suggests a meditated choice. The men he chooses are ordinary people, fishermen, tax collectors, subversive zealots, reconciled sinners and even the one who will be the traitor.
According to an explicit act of his own will, Christ forms a distinct group of twelve men among his followers. Literally Jesus "makes" the twelve, this is the meaning of the Greek verb epòiesen. The same Semitic expression is used in the Greek Bible of the Seventy to indicate the choice of priests (1 Kings 12:31; 13:33; 2 Cr 2:18). When God chooses us, his Spirit gives us the ability to become what his mercy has designed; just as the psalmist will say: "Your hands made me and formed me" (Ps 119:73). This is an action of grace that does not do violence to our will, does not mortify our nature, nor obliges us to become what he wants, as the tragic story of Judas Iscariot will show.
The new group constituted by Jesus represents the foundations of the Church. Along with the primary task of preaching, the twelve are given the mandate to cast out demons.
The apostles are similarly named in all three synoptic gospels. Peter is always named first; this name, which means "rock" replaces the original name Simon and describes his character and his activity, which will be to confirm the brothers in the faith, as a foundation stone in the construction of the Church.
The apostles are named in three groups of four. The first group of apostles, Peter, Andrew, James and John, all fishermen, is represented in the Gospels particularly close to Jesus. James and John are defined as "sons of thunder" (boanèrghes in Aramaic) probably in reference to their fervent personality or to their apocalyptic preaching.
Each apostle presents a specific identity; it is the piece of a mosaic, the beauty of which shines in itself, but even more when is viewed in the whole composition.
Prayer
Grant us, Lord, to be in the building of the Church a small stone carved according to your will. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
