He Gave Them Authority

I wonder what the Apostles felt when Jesus summoned them and gave them their mission. He passes to them his authority to bring healing and wholeness to his people. Did they feel overwhelmed? Did they think, who am I to do this work? Did they wonder if Jesus made a mistake? They were aware of who they were and where they had come from. Did Matthew think he was not worthy and that no one would listen to him because of his past?

Often when we are asked to take up the mission of Jesus and his Church we can feel inadequate or unworthy. Jesus, on the other hand, knows who he is calling and the potential of each person. What is unique about Jesus is that he calls each one of us by our names and knows us. But more importantly, he does not leave us to do it on our own. He gives to us his authority, his Spirit to work in us so that we can fulfil what may seem impossible in our own ordinariness. He and we work together to bring about the Kingdom of God.