The twelve apostles

Gospel

Luke 6:12-19

Jesus chooses his twelve apostles

Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor.

He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them all.

Reflection:

In Luke 6:12-19, we see Jesus’ deep reliance on prayer before making the significant decision to choose his twelve apostles. His night-long communion with God underscores the importance of seeking divine guidance in our choices. The apostles, diverse in background yet united in purpose, were called to share in Jesus’ mission. After this selection, Jesus descends to meet the crowd, healing and teaching with divine power. This passage reminds us that true leadership and service flow from a foundation of prayer and alignment with God’s will, empowering us to touch lives with compassion and purpose.

Question for Reflection: How can I incorporate prayer into my decision-making process to better align with God’s purpose for my life?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, guide us through prayer to discern Your will, as You did in choosing Your apostles. Fill us with Your compassion and power to serve and heal those around us. Amen.

Comments

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