Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him (Mk 3:13).

Through the centuries mountains have been sites where people have gone to rise above the every day, to rise above the clouds, where the air is crisper, cleaner. It is a means of gaining a new perspective, transcending the human to touch the spiritual, and hearing the voice of God. When one of the Gospel writers inserts the detail that Jesus is present on a mountain, we can be prepared that something significant is going to happen.

In today’s Gospel, the good news revealed to us is that Jesus calls to himself the Twelve, the Apostles to preach and cast out demons. They are to continue the ministry of Jesus. These are not perfect men, but each will have a part to play in salvation history. Jesus will entrust them with the deposit of faith that they are to protect, yes, but more so to proclaim. Apostle means one who is sent.

Jesus will continue to call the Twelve to himself, to teach, mentor, model, and empower them so they will continue his mission to call people to repent and believe in the Gospel. Especially, through the Gospel of Mark, it often looks as if Jesus may have made a mistake in his choice. When Jesus needs them most, Judas will turn him over to the Temple guards, the others flee at his arrest, and Peter will publicly deny him. It will not be until after the Resurrection and Ascension that the seeds that Jesus has sown in them will begin to germenate and bear fruit.

Just as Jesus called the Twelve, he calls us as well. In each generation we must own our faith and pass it on to the next. Are we perfect, no. Do we have doubts, fears, weaknesses, yes. Does God call us and love us any way? Yes. Like each Apostle, we are to go out and proclaim the good news that Jesus is our Lord! We do this daily with our words, faces, and actions. We think, look, speak, and act in ways that are kind, empowering, uplifting, and convicting while at the same time resisting the temptation to fix others but instead accompany and guide one another. We do this by looking at our family, community, country, and world and ask ourselves, “What is missing?” “What needs to be better?” “Our country and world would be better if…” Fill in the blank. Do any answers come immediately to mind? Then maybe that is what God is calling us to do.

Before panicking, take a deep breath. We all have much on our plate. Start small, we can bring God with us into whatever we are already doing. He will give us the tools and accompany us as we seek to fulfill his will. As did the Apostles, we will make mistakes, make false starts, fall, sin, and deny opportunities to reach out to be a witness. When we pull up short, let us resist beating ourselves up, learn from the experience, and prepare better for the next apostolic opportunity.  Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted, are we willing to follow his path to the heights and come to him?

Photo: Hiking to the mountain top, Mohawk Trail, MA., around 1983-84

Link for today’s Mass readings for Friday, January 19, 2018:

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011918.cfm