“Jesus told them, ‘I have chosen you to be with me. I will also send you out to preach, ...” (Mk 3:14, 15)

“Jesus told them, ‘I have chosen you to be with me. I will also send you out to preach, and you will have authority to drive out demons.” (Mk 3:14, 15)

Today’s Passages: Mk 3:13-19; Heb 8:6-13

Meditation: Today’s meditation verse gives us an account of the election of Jesus’ disciples as apostles and the purpose of their election. Jesus’ teachings on the kingdom of God and his healing ministry attracted many to follow him and several of them eventually turned to be his disciples. However, Jesus one day chose twelve from among these disciples and called them apostles. While choosing the twelve, Jesus reveals or explains to them clearly the purpose of their calling.

“Jesus told them, ‘I have chosen you to be with me. I will also send you out to preach, and you will have authority to drive out demons.” (Mk 3:14, 15)  Obviously we find three main elements or aspects in this election: “to be with him,” “to be sent out to preach,” “and authority to drive out demons.” These three elements in a way remind us of God’s love for Adam, and the authority and mission he was entrusted in the garden of Eden.

The creation account of Genesis and the following narratives give us a rather good picture of God’s love toward man and his love for him. The question of God, “where are you?” to Adam echoes also God’s anxiety over his absence. This is just like a loving father who is after his beloved child that is missing. Through today’s meditation verse, in the beginning of “the creation account of new Israel,” we hear again the revelation of God’s purpose; “to be with him.”

Again we read, “God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and placed there the man whom he had formed.” (Gen 2:8) He was given the garden with a mission; “The Lord God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it.” (Gen 2:15) An apostle is called to be with him and to be sent out to accomplish a particular mission like Adam’s call; “to be sent out to preach.”

The third element is very important: “have the authority to drive out the demons.” It is in union with God only you may be able to do your ministry and drive out demons. Once your relationship with God is broken, then your ministry will be disturbed and destroyed by Satan as in the case of Adam. Therefore, in order to drive out demons, you have to do your ministries faithfully in union with God. Jesus says, “Without me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5) 

                 

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. O Lord, you are our creator and redeemer. The fact that you are our creator makes us think of our call to be with you and the fact that you are our redeemer reminds us of our faithful living in this world. Lord, give us the grace to do all our duties in union with you so that we may not fall into the temptations of Satan. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Have a blissful Friday!