Memorial of Saint Agnes
January 21, 2022
Daily Reading from the USCCB: Mark 3:13-19
In this reading from Mark’s third chapter we see Jesus calling 12 men to a special place among his disciples. The number 12 seems intended to recall the 12 tribes of Israel. So these 12 apostles represented the new people of God.
They were called by name by Jesus to be “apostles”–that is emissaries. To be that, they had to know Jesus. So they were to be with him, to be close to him so as to be able to present him accurately to others. Jesus authorized them to preach in his name and to drive out the spirits of evil when they encountered them.
In today’s Church, Catholics see bishops as successors of the apostles. They too, are official emissaries for Jesus.
