The Commissioning of the Twelve

RedAngel · Newbie Joined: Oct 07, 2006 Posts: 11 Status: **Offline**

From the Gospel of Matthew: Chapter 10:5-8
"Then He summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the twelve are these: first, Simon called Peter,and his brother Andrew;James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Phillip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;James,the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him. Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus,"Do not go into pagan territory or into a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation; "The kingdom of Heaven is at hand'."
When I was first reflecting upon this passage, the first thing that struck me was the names of the Twelve. Typically, we tend to skip the geneology and the names and the places and whatnot and just focus on the big picture. In this case, I think the names of the Twelve are very important. God is not a God who calls us by number, or who judges us on how much wealth you have or what kind of car we drive. He knows us on a very intimate level.He knows what thoughts we think and how many brothers and sisters we have. He knows us by name. He knows us so well, that,when we are truly honest with ourselves, we can see how unworthy we are of anything..yet Jesus, Son of God, God Himself,who knows how unworthy we are trusts us with big commissions. How merciful is that! If He trusts us with these big adventures, how can we fail to trust Him who can do all things? Maybe that is a lesson for all of us to learn: To trust God completely and totally depend on Him.
God Bless You All,
RedAngel

nam-eno · Newbie Joined: Jul 05, 2007 Posts: 77 Status: **Offline**

Dear RedAngel,

Thank you for your reflection. It made me think. He provides all, but He asks us to participate. We are called to His work, but we have no hope without trust in His mercy.

Psalms 147

Hallelujah! How good to celebrate our God in song; how sweet to give fitting praise. The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem, gathers the dispersed of Israel, heals the brokenhearted, binds up their wounds, numbers all the stars, calls each of them by name. Great is our Lord, vast in power, with wisdom beyond measure. The LORD sustains the poor, but casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; with the lyre celebrate our God, Who covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, makes grass sprout on the mountains, Who gives animals their food and ravens what they cry for. God takes no delight in the strength of horses, no pleasure in the runner's stride. Rather the LORD takes pleasure in the devout, those who await his faithful care. Glorify the LORD, Jerusalem; Zion, offer praise to your God, Who has strengthened the bars of your gates, blessed your children within you, brought peace to your borders, and filled you with finest wheat. The LORD sends a command to earth; his word runs swiftly! Thus snow is spread like wool, frost is scattered like ash, hail is dispersed like crumbs; before such cold the waters freeze. Again he sends his word and they melt; the wind is unleashed and the waters flow. The LORD also proclaims his word to Jacob, decrees and laws to Israel. God has not done this for other nations; of such laws they know nothing. Hallelujah!

He knows us all by name. He knows the number of the hairs on our head. Not one of us will he lose if we have faith in Him; and in that faith we are called to His work.

May peace be with you.

Nam Eno