nunblog

Today's Gospel seems straightforward enough: the call of the Twelve Apostles. But there is something about the way Mark wrote it that piqued my interest. For example, there is a kind of back and forth between "he" (Jesus) and "they" (the Twelve):
Action: He summoned; they came
Purpose: that they might be with him; that he might send them forth
That "purpose" for which he "made" the Twelve is one, unified purpose, not two things in succession. They are not to go forth after having been with him: they are to be with him and be sent forth at the same time! Clearly, this is pointing us toward Pentecost, when the indwelling Spirit will make that seeming contradiction a total reality. There is also that beautiful line in the book of Revelation: They will follow the Lamb wherever he goes. This is to "be with him" and to be sent by him at the same time, "to preach and to have authority."