Luke 6:12-16 NRSVue

¹²Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. ¹³And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: ¹⁴Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, ¹⁵and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called the Zealot, ¹⁶and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
Jesus is looking beyond the present listeners to a far-off future, when his teaching will change the world. To do this, he called, and he chose twelve men, ordinary men, without influence or special training. What equipped them was the knowledge and love of Jesus.

Reflection
Lord, may that be my armament too.

Reflection
After prayer Jesus chose his first community. The beginnings of the church are here. These are the ones who would gather with others at Pentecost and move out into the whole world to proclaim the good news. As the gospel goes on we will get to know some of them well. They are just like each of us - and we are just like each of them.