Gospel
Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted
and they came to him.
He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach
and to have authority to drive out demons:
He appointed the Twelve:
Simon, whom he named Peter;
James, son of Zebedee,
and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,
that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;
Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
Today in the Gospel of Mark we see Jesus choosing his 12 disciples. Men from various backgrounds. Men with different temperaments, different education, and training. None were experienced in the work ahead. None fit what you or I would put on the job description.
He didn’t choose them for what they had been up too until that point, but who they could be. After trials and challenges and listening to Jesus.
If we reflected as employers on the Jesus team, we would say it didn’t go as well as we might have planned.
The leader, Peter would outright formally deny Jesus three times.
Thomas, while mourning the loss of Jesus, would doubt the resurrection even took place. Even after the others professed it, he doubted it.
Brothers, John and James were loud and assertive who Jesus surely had to slow down at times.
And Judas as we know betrayed him completely and would later take his own life.
As managers in corporate America, I suspect we would have been reprimanded for our team’s performance, if not terminated.
In the end all would go on to be the historically successful apostles he chose them to be. Except for Judas.
But we know that Jesus came to be with us and he came to die for us. He is death and resurrection was not a failure for his mission or failure of the will of God but was expected and prophesied. Even Jesus spoke about it.
God’s ways are not our ways. Who he calls to come into our life to help us and inspire us on our journey may not be who we would have selected.
But consider this. Everyone who is part of our life. Everyone we meet. We engage in business with. Everyone we meet, was sent to us. Not all to help us. But all to lead us forward.
Those who lift us up are from God. Those who we lift up are also. Those who hurt us or try to drag us away from the faith are testing us. Strengthening us.
The Holy Spirit will always be with us. The fire of Jesus Christ put in our hearts.
Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way. Business is slow. Jobs can be difficult or lost. People we love are sick and will all eventually pass a way from this life. But in these times of sorrow and pain we must remember the Holy Spirit is coming to help us.
Maybe we don’t feel the Spirit right now. Maybe God even seems to be everywhere but beside us at times. But he has a path for us. He had a way. And he is always doing his work to bring us forward and to eternal life with him.
When Jesus had ascended and the disciples were left alone, the tongues of fire and the Spirit came down upon them to strengthen them and enable them to preach and be apostles for Christ to the world. But first they felt a violent and driving wind come upon them. It was only after this that the Spirit came to live with them.
Whatever trouble we face today we must remember to hold on to the light we have for the Holy Spirit is coming soon. We are also chosen to be disciples and the light for Jesus Christ. Allow the turmoil to quiet down in our life and know Gods will is unfolding for us all.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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