Today’s Scripture Readings

Gospel Reading

NRSV

He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Then he went home;

Before Jesus sends anyone out, he first calls them to himself. Jesus goes up the mountain, a place of prayer and encounter, and summons those he wants. And the first reason he appoints the Twelve is simple and profound: “they were to be his companions.” Only then are they sent to preach.
The disciples were not chosen because they were impressive, polished, academically sound or prepared. They were chosen because Jesus desired relationship with them. Their authority, their courage, and eventually their witness flow from being with and taught by Jesus. Without that closeness, their words would be hollow. Without relationship, there can be no real zeal in whatever they go on to say or do.

We see this in everyday life. Think of a teacher, parent, or leader whose words carry weight, not because they speak the loudest, but because they have taken the time to know, listen, and walk alongside others. Trust grows through relationship, and from that trust comes influence. The same is true of our faith. When our relationship with Jesus is neglected, our witness can begin to sound like obligation rather than joy.

Each of the Twelve is named. Not as a group, but one by one. Brothers, friends, political opposites, even the one who would betray him, all are known and called by name. In Scripture, to be named is to belong. It is to be seen, claimed, and given purpose. The God who calls the disciples is the same God who knows every hair on our head, who formed us in the womb, and who still calls us by name today.

Through our baptism, we too are sent to share the Good News but always from relationship first. When we remain close to Christ, our lives speak with authenticity, compassion, and quiet power, often before a word is ever spoken.