Mark 3:13-19

Hebrews 8:6-13

Psalm 85:8, 10, 11-12, 13-14

Mark 3:13-19

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted

and they came to him.

He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,

that they might be with him

and he might send them forth to preach

and to have authority to drive out demons:

He appointed the Twelve:

Simon, whom he named Peter;

James, son of Zebedee,

and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,

that is, sons of thunder;

Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,

Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;

Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,

and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I praise you for all your works. As I contemplate the appointment of the Twelve, I realize how unique each one was. You look upon me with the same love and know who I am better than I know myself. Help me today to know my strengths and my weaknesses, my personality traits and deepest desires, so that I may better serve you and your Kingdom.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Twelve as the New Israel: Mark has just narrated the growing conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities (Mark 2:1-3:6). Instead of embracing Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and accepting the signs of salvation, the Pharisees and religious leaders began to plot Jesus’ death. This means that the people of Israel needed new leadership, that she needed new shepherds. The number twelve is not arbitrary. It refers back to the number of the sons of Jacob, the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve sons of Jacob were representatives of Old Covenant Israel (Genesis 49:3-28). Here, Jesus gathers 12 new patriarchs to found his New Covenant people in the Church.

2. The Twelve as Ministers in the New Kingdom: The number twelve also refers back to the 12 administrators of David’s Kingdom. King Solomon, appointed a cabinet of ministers for specific tasks in the kingdom (1 Kings 4:1-6). He also had twelve officers (district governors) over all Israel (1 Kings 4:7). “The officials selected by Solomon point to those whom Christ appointed as rulers of his people. Twelve officers were chosen to oversee the house of the king, and so the apostles are made stewards of the divine mysteries in order to nourish the Israel of God and administer the household of the King of Peace (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testament, 510).

3. Our High Priest is Mediator of a Better Covenant: The Letter to the Hebrews mediates at length on the New Covenant that Jesus, our eternal high priest, has established. The author recalls the prophecy of Jeremiah that compares and contrasts the Old Covenant with the New. Israel broke the Old Covenant; the New Covenant will be unbreakable. The Old Covenant was written on tablets of stone. The New Covenant will be written on the heart. The Old Covenant enabled Israel to teach others about the one, true God. The New Covenant will grant superior, intimate, and personal knowledge of God. The Old Covenant was ineffective to take away and forgive sin. The New Covenant, by contrast, will bring about true forgiveness and reconciliation. Our sins will be blotted out and remembered no more.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you commissioned your Apostles and gave them the power to teach and drive out demons. I ask that you empower me today to carry out the mission you have given me. Like the Apostles, I want to spread your Gospel message of love and forgiveness.

Living the Word of God: Do I truly see myself as a member of the New People of God and the Kingdom of God? Am I setting a good example to others such that they can see that I belong to God and his Kingdom?