Appointed and Authorized
Excerpt from Mark 3:13-19a
"And he appointed twelve, whom he also named to be apostles . . . to have authority to cast out the demons."
Reflection by Donna Schaper
Appointment and authorization are words usually associated with a new job or job description. We get our credentials, we get our keys, and we get our security pass. We are sent. Jesus appointed and authorized twelve whom he then called by name to go out and speak his message and cast out demons. They mostly had on-the-job training for a very new job, called being "Apostles."
We, too, are called to be disciples become apostles. We, too, are sent out to do things we don't know how to do. We are appointed and authorized in the same way the original untutored and uneducated disciples were turned into apostles. You only have to remember the word "apostate" to understand the word "apostle." An apostate is one who gets it all wrong. An apostle is one who gets it kind of right. Imagine the trust of Jesus in his people, which is to say us. He imagines we can get it right. He imagines we can do things we don't know how to do. He imagines we can de-demonize the world. He imagines we can find the clumsy words to speak his gorgeous message. We are appointed and authorized. Our names have been called.
Prayer
May the courage of the original apostles be ours. May we accept the appointment to speak of Jesus with all we have and whatever we have. Amen.
Excerpt from Mark 3:13-19a
"And he appointed twelve, whom he also named to be apostles . . . to have authority to cast out the demons."
Reflection by Donna Schaper
Appointment and authorization are words usually associated with a new job or job description. We get our credentials, we get our keys, and we get our security pass. We are sent. Jesus appointed and authorized twelve whom he then called by name to go out and speak his message and cast out demons. They mostly had on-the-job training for a very new job, called being "Apostles."
We, too, are called to be disciples become apostles. We, too, are sent out to do things we don't know how to do. We are appointed and authorized in the same way the original untutored and uneducated disciples were turned into apostles. You only have to remember the word "apostate" to understand the word "apostle." An apostate is one who gets it all wrong. An apostle is one who gets it kind of right. Imagine the trust of Jesus in his people, which is to say us. He imagines we can get it right. He imagines we can do things we don't know how to do. He imagines we can de-demonize the world. He imagines we can find the clumsy words to speak his gorgeous message. We are appointed and authorized. Our names have been called.
Prayer
May the courage of the original apostles be ours. May we accept the appointment to speak of Jesus with all we have and whatever we have. Amen.
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