Daily Reflections - January 20, 2012

JESUS CHOOSES THE TWELVE


I wonder why Mark often refers to the Apostles as “The Twelve”? Could it be that he wants to identify them in some way with the 12 tribes of Israel? I do not know the answer, but suffice it to say that he probably has his reasons. What is important is that Jesus recognized that He needed help in completing His mission and so was not afraid to call others to assist Him in His ministry.

One reason why many ministry initiatives fail is that people are unwilling or unable to ask for help when they need it. Too often, they do not want to share the glory that may come from the success of the ministry. It is pretty easy to see how foolish this desire is as it often results in the failure of the ministry altogether. Thus, no glory for anyone, not even God! If only we were more willing to work together in the mission of the Church, I am sure we would experience many more successes than we do now.

It is always a challenge to work with others as it means a certain level of compromise and detachment from the shared ministry. However, this is generally a good thing as it promotes a greater sense of sharing and experiencing the gifts of not just ourselves, but also those of others. It is at the heart of our nature as human beings to belong to a community. It is in the context of a community that we will thrive and bear the most fruit for the Kingdom of God. Yes, challenges always arise when working in a community setting but this is precisely what makes the ministry strong and help it endure through the difficult times and thrive in the good ones.

Jesus chose 12 men whom He formed in a special way to work with Him and then continue His work once He was gone. In the same way, we should seek to train others in the ministries we start so that they can carry on once we leave and move on to different things.Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL


REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you possessive about the ministries to which you belong or do you allow others to join you so that they will be formed through service?


Jesus, help me to realize that all the blessings I have in life come from You and that they will grow and become greater when I allow others to share in them.