Summoned

Summoned

Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Saul then said to David: "You are in the right rather than I; you have treated me generously, while I have done you harm. Great is the generosity you showed me today when the LORD delivered me into your grasp, and you did not kill me. For if a man meets his enemy, does he send him away unharmed? May the LORD reward you generously for what you have done this day. And now, I know that you shall surely be king and that sovereignty over Israel shall come into your possession." 1 Samuel 24:18-21

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. Mark 3:13-15

Piety

Study

Earlier this week, I was reading an article about the differences between being an apostle and a disciple. As we hear Jesus commission the twelve apostles today, it may be helpful to revisit the words "apostle" and "disciple." Although we often use these two nouns as synonyms, they refer to different experiences.

According to the website Aleteia, the English word "apostle" is derived from the Greek apostello, "to send forth."

While hardly used in the Old Testament, it is found at least 80 times in the New Testament. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Jesus may have originally used the Aramaic word seliah, which describes those "dispatched from the mother city by the rulers of the race on any foreign mission, especially such as were charged with collecting the tribute paid to the temple service."

Author Philip Kosloski goes on to describe an apostle as one who is "sent" by God to preach the Gospel to the nations. For many centuries this was almost exclusively used to identify the 12 apostles sent into the world by Jesus. Similarly, St. Paul is often named an "apostle," because of his divine commission from Jesus.

However, he contrasts this with the student-disciple. As references in the Your Daily Tripod reflection Monday, the word "disciple" comes from the Latin discipulus, meaning a "student" or "pupil." Kosloski points out that similar to the word "apostle," it is used almost exclusively in the New Testament. It typically denotes the many "students" who surrounded Jesus and eagerly learned from his many teachings.

Action

Are you a disciple of Jesus? Even if you do not go out into the world to preach the Gospel to the world and drive out demons, are you a person who is continually learning what it means to be a Christian-Catholic and Cursillista?

Do you remember that John, the author of the fourth Gospel and the Book of Revelation, was the only apostle not to have a martyr's death? After being summoned and sent, in Revelation, John writes from the island of Patmos, Greece: "I John, your brother, who share with you in Jesus the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus" (Revelation 1:9). He died around AD 100 and is buried near Ephesus.

John still reflects on life and love from the Isle of Patmos. “Beloved, Act 4” will

be presented by Phil Russell with music by Evan Godwin at the Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapel, Tuesday, March 6 at 7 p.m. Prepare to have your view of St. John and your Beloved nature expanded in words, music and pray.

From a recent e-mail I got from Phil:

The Holy Spirit laid one word on my heart last Lent: "Beloved." Last Lent, Evan took this "Word" to Holy Comforter in Vienna for their Lenten reflection.

I have pondered and prayed the "Word" for this better part of this past year. It is hard to see myself as "Beloved" But as one called, even as a sinner. I am/ you are: "Beloved." Chew on this one, below.

I am inspired to use the "Pieta" as the focal point of "John's" own pondering heart. As he turns from the Cross (O, Sacred Head), this is the moment when John speaks of Mary, his Mother receiving her own "Beloved" into her arms. Her position is not unlike the position which she took to "give birth" to Him.

Consider yourself beloved and summoned to mark your calendar now to hear about the fruits of John's commissioning.  You are invited to "pray" alongside Phil, Evan, and others.