Today’s Scripture Readings

Gospel Reading

NRSV

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.”

What a day – what a moment! When I read the Gospel today, I felt my heart exploding in my chest! Can you imagine being one of the twelve, being there as Jesus gathered the chosen few. Go on, pause for a second. Take a minute to picture yourself in this scene. Imagine Jesus calling you by name – you, personally – being chosen by Jesus, the miracle working saviour of the world. Out of all the followers of Jesus, He chooses you – warts and all. Sit with that miracle for a moment!

And, as if that’s not enough, you are not only chosen, but called into mission, given authority, the power to heal, and sent out to proclaim the good news! What a moment!

Now, if you are like me, there are many feelings that come when you put yourself in this moment. First, I’d be looking around to check if there is another Bec around in case it wasn’t me he was calling! But then, once I established that it was me, I would be filled with joy and fear and surprise and inadequacy and love and then more joy! Who am I that He would choose me? And how could I say anything but “YES!”

And do you know what? He is choosing and calling us right now and wants to equip us for mission in the same way. My friends, there is so much darkness in the world, and we are called to be the light. We are called to go into the whole world and tell the good news! Let’s rise up today and say a new whole hearted “YES” to Jesus. The world needs us – let’s go!

Will you say “YES” to Jesus’ call today?