Mt 10:1-7
[Jesus] summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. 2The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; 4Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
5Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.6Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ”
Reflection:
His twelve disciples. We have always tried to study the different personalities of these twelve men. Perhaps we should also reflect on how they lived with one another. What kept them together? How did they remain friends?
I have eleven classmates, still priests assigned in different parts of the country. Stories of their struggles and endeavors in their fields of apostolate encourage and inspire me, though we seldom meet.
It is good to have a circle of close friends—a few good friends whom we empower or authorize to laugh at us and with us, to love us and be loved by us, to help and extend our friendship to others.
Jesus does not create a clique or an exclusive society. He starts a movement for change and creates a community for service. He lives a philosophy of real living and develops trust for his Father. And he starts with a small group who believe in him. They will enjoy and surprise one another. They will be faithful to one another (and they will turn out to be—except for one, of course).