Sharing the Load

Sometimes we all need help.

He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. - Mark 3:13-15

In today's Gospel, Jesus reaches out to his disciples for help.

Mark tells us the reason the twelve are called to be apostles is to give Jesus a hand healing and casting out demons.  As his work became known, so  many came to him that he needed the twelve, even Judas Iscariot, to get out there and do the work with him.

I think we can easily miss this aspect of his ministry, the sharing of the work with us, his followers and disciples.

We can miss this point altogether, seeing everything Jesus did as unique to him and not relevant for us.  And even if we accept that the apostles could go out and do as he did, we hold them high, and assume we could never do as they did.

So, imagine the disappointment Jesus must feel when people come to us for help and we do nothing.

I believe we are all called to be instruments of healing for ourselves and for others.  And to be successful, we need to have faith.

It is not that we have to have faith in God alone.  We have to believe God has faith in us as well.  The chosen followers who became apostles were not the most qualified, nor were they all the best and most trustworthy individuals.  They were average at best.

Surely we can live up to that.

So, how will you share the load today?  What will you do that will help others who call out to God for someone to come and be a savior, a redeemer, a healer?

Let all who have ears to hear, listen and respond to the call.  He is waiting.

More to come...