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Commentary on the Gospel for Friday, January 24, 2025
Today’s Gospel recounts the selection of those who would follow Jesus closely. From among His followers, He chose twelve—the twelve apostles—with three specific missions: to be with Him, to be sent out to preach, and to cast out demons. These twelve would be His closest collaborators, what we might call today the core team of the loosely organized movement that followed Jesus during His public ministry.
Of these three missions, the simplest was the first: to be with Him. Jesus didn’t want to walk this path alone. From the very beginning, He desired a community, a group to share His joys and sorrows with, people to talk, live, and eat with, those with whom He could begin making the Kingdom of God a reality. He also wanted to share with them the unique relationship He had with His Father, which was central to His message.
The other two missions were also vital: to preach, which means proclaiming the Kingdom of God, and to cast out demons—freeing people from the forces that enslaved them and kept them from living fully in freedom.
It’s helpful to keep these three missions in mind because they define the path for any follower of Jesus: to be with Him, to announce the Kingdom, and to free those who suffer for any reason. The way we fulfill these missions may vary depending on the time and circumstances, but their essence remains the same. Christians are not here to establish rules and laws or to exclude and condemn the “bad.” Our task is to welcome, open doors, extend hands, liberate, and share life—all rooted in being with Jesus, which is the first and most essential step.
One final note: Jesus’ choice of disciples wasn’t exactly flawless. Most of those He selected didn’t quite live up to the task. In fact, at the moment of the cross, they all ran away. And we’re no better. As Paul says, we carry “this treasure in earthen vessels” (2 Cor 4:7) so that God’s grace might shine through.
Conclusion: Christians aren’t better than anyone else, but we have been entrusted with these missions, and we must do our best to carry them out.