“Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to
send them out in pairs, giving them authority over unclean spirits.” (Mark 6:7)
Reflection: Jesus used a tactic in his mission whereby each
of the Apostles traveled with another on mission. This likely created a small community for support,
shared prayer, and practical assistance.
Where one man had this gift, perhaps Jesus paired him with another
Apostle who brought a complimentary gift.
Stop and think: who traveled with Judas? Who got to walk with Peter? Which Apostle would you choose to go with on
mission?
In the course of your life, you probably were paired with
another person (by chance or on purpose) and found the work you were doing a
lot easier. Maybe a roommate in college,
a co-worker, a close confidant. Who was
that person for you? What did you learn
from her or him? Be grateful for those
pairings in your life, and remain open to that apostolic mission today whereby
you find authority in shared faith for the building of the Kingdom.
(PS: As a new
teacher, I found a close friend in Patrick Meade. We both taught the same students at a
Catholic elementary school. I was
language arts; he was social studies.
Indeed we were “paired” for three years as we lived out that
mission. More on this pairing
elsewhere.)