Disciples of Promise:
Jesus Appoints the Twelve
My Reflection on Mark 3:13-19
In the quiet moments of anticipation, Jesus ascends a mountain – a most sacred place of divine encounter and transformation. Here, in this profound moment recorded in The Gospel of Mark, 3:13-19, we witness the intentional selection of the twelve apostles, a pivotal event that would shape the future of Christ's ministry and the foundations of the Church. This deliberate choice reveals God's extraordinary plan of using ordinary men to spread His message of redemption and love.
Each disciple brought a unique background and personality to this sacred calling. From Simon Peter's passionate impetuousness to Matthew's background as a tax collector, from James and John's fiery temperament to Thomas's initial skepticism, Jesus saw beyond their human limitations. Who we are, and what we have, does not play a role in our Lord's choice when He chooses us. He saw their potential for profound spiritual growth and their capacity to become vessels of God's transformative grace, just like He sees that in all of us. Their diverse backgrounds remind us that God calls people from all walks of life, transforming them through His divine purpose.
God's infinite love for us transcends human limitations, choosing each of us in our brokenness and potential, just as He transformed Saul - a persecutor of Christians - into Paul, the mighty Apostle who would spread the Gospel across nations. The divine calling knows no boundaries of wealth, status, or past mistakes; saints like Francis of Assisi, who emerged from wealth and privilege, and Mother Teresa, who served the poorest of the poor, demonstrate that God's purpose erupts through ordinary lives, turning them into extraordinary vessels of hope and redemption leading the Church. Whether you are rich or impoverished, wounded or whole, you are infinitely valued - selected not by your own merit, but by a love that sees beyond your limitations and calls you to a greater purpose.
The act of appointing these twelve men was more than a strategic recruitment, Jesus tells the disciples: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you." Jesus also called them first "to be with him" – a powerful invitation to discipleship that precedes any ministerial work. This prioritization of relationship over service speaks volumes about our Catholic understanding of vocation: we are first called to a deep, personal relationship with Christ, from which all meaningful calling flows. The disciples were to learn not just through instruction, but through proximity, observation, and shared experiences with Jesus.
Their mission was both simple and revolutionary: to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. This dual mandate encapsulates the holistic nature of Christ's redemptive work – addressing both the spiritual proclamation of the Gospel and the practical liberation of souls from spiritual bondage. Our tradition understands this mission as continuing through apostolic succession, where the Pope, the Cardinals, the Bishops, and, the Priests carry forward this sacred trust of proclaiming Christ's message and bringing healing to a wounded world.
Reflecting on this passage, we are reminded that each baptized Christian receives a similar call – to be with Christ and to share His love. While not all are called to ordained ministry, we are all invited to be disciples in our unique contexts, each according to their gifts. The twelve apostles, with all their imperfections and potential, serve as a profound testament to God's ability to use ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. Their story invites us to listen attentively to God's call, and to embrace our own vocational journey, and to trust that Christ can transform our limitations into channels of His remarkable grace.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
