Council of Advice - March 14

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 56, 57, [58]; PM Psalm 64, 65; Gen. 41:46-57; 1 Cor. 4:8-20(21); Mark 3:7-19a

I’ve always thought of the twelve disciples as people who were swept up in Jesus’s movement, compelled to go along for how it would change their lives. Historically, I have placed the emphasis on how following Jesus changed the disciples’ lives, but another question could be asked.  How did the disciples change Jesus’s life? 

In this morning’s Gospel, a crowd begins to follow Jesus, specifically a “great multitude from Galilee.”  He orders the disciples to have a boat ready, “because of the crowd, so they would not crush him.”  There is no wasting time in the Gospel of Mark.  From the beginning Jesus is engaged in action, changing the world through his healing and curing. 

And then he goes up the mountain and appoints twelve to “be with him” (v 14), “and then he went home” (v 19).  While I certainly don’t want to suggest the Son of God doesn’t have the power to change the world on his own, it seems important that Jesus has a council of advice, or a team of people to support him.  Maybe it is possible that he could do this on his own, but he doesn’t.  He invites a group to join him and support him and be with him.

We are all engaged in the work of healing and ministry by virtue of our Baptism.  Our lives are the mission fields that Jesus invites us into. A more targeted question is who are the people we have invited into our lives for the specific purpose of supporting our faith lived out?  Do you have a council of advice that gives you support, challenge, vision, and encouragement? 

Faithfully,

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  Who are the specific people who help you on applying your faith in your daily life?  Have these people naturally found this role, or did you invite them into it?  Why does this matter?  How could you be more intentional in cultivating supporting relationships?

Daily Challenge:  Invite someone new into your council of advice. Here is an article about seeking a younger mentor that could challenge your assumptions about whom to invite in.