To read the texts click on the texts: Col 2:6-15; Lk 6:12-19
By placing the appointment of
the Twelve immediately after the controversies with the Pharisees (6:1-11) and
the dramatic distinction between old and new (5:36-39), Luke presents the
appointment of the Twelve as the constitution of a new nucleus for the people
of God, perhaps in deliberate succession to the twelve tribes of Israel. The
conflicts between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees have already shown that
they represent the old and that, therefore, they are no more fit for leadership
in the kingdom than old wineskins for new wine.
Luke makes special mention of
the personal prayer of Jesus at all the important events in his life, and so
Luke portrays Jesus as praying before his baptism, before his temptation, after
a hard days work of preaching, teaching and healing and just before his choice
of the Twelve. Jesus knows that even though humans will be weak and fail, even
though they will deny and betray him again and again, he would still want them
to collaborate with him in bringing about the kingdom.
The choice of the Twelve is a
text that offers each of us a lot of hope and consolation. This is because we
are aware of what Jesus could accomplish even with such a motley band of men.
Since he did so much with and through them, he can do the same with and through
us.
Request a brief note on 'according to the elemental spirits of the universe' n
ReplyDelete