To Be With Him and To Be Sent Out

Reflect

And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach and have authority to cast out demons (Mk 3: 14-15)

Meditate

What are the Twelve being called for? What actually is Jesus' will with regard to them? Two reasons are named: to be with him and to be sent out.

At first glance this seems in fact to be a contradiction. Either, one could say, Jesus wants them to form his entourage and always to accompany him; or he wants people he can send out who then will of course only be with him from time to time. If we transpose this question into the terminology of a later age, then one would say that here the monastic, contemplative vocation and the apostolic vocation seem to be intertwined with each other. We on the other hand distinguish them and are of the opinion that to a considerable extent the one excludes the other.

But it is precisely here that Jesus corrects us. Only someone who is with him can be sent. And only someone who lets himself or herself be sent, who transmits his message and his love, is with him. Of course there are various different kinds and forms of this mission, various different patterns of the apostolate and of being close to him. I would not want to dispute this here at all. But prior to and transcending all these differences there is a fundamental unity that is indispensable.

Apostles are eye-witnesses and, if I may be allowed the term, ear-witnesses. Only someone who knows him, who knows his words and deeds, who has himself or herself experienced him in the encounter of long days and nights-only that kind of person can bring him to others. That is true even today.

(Pope Benedict XVI)

Act

Share with one another (either in cell group, or a friend) how my life and spirituality today reflects the above two reasons – to be with Him and then to be sent out.