Weekly Readings

Editor’s Note: Fr. Peter shares insights from a variety of voices on the Sunday readings.

Jesus Calls Together the Twelve

Almost everyone who has picked up a Bible has heard of the twelve tribes of Israel. Named after the twelve sons of the patriarch Jacob, the twelve tribes feature prominently in the Hebrew Scriptures. The twelve tribes are freed from slavery in Egypt and enter the Promised Land together. They then choose from among themselves a king. What would Vacation Bible School be without stories of the twelve tribes?

But read beyond the familiar lore of VBS, and one quickly discovers that the twelve tribes did not remain united. First, the tribes in the North were conquered by the Assyrians. Later, the tribes of the South were decimated by the Babylonians. The family once called by God to become a holy nation was scattered by war and the political machinations of their own leaders. They became like sheep without a shepherd, no longer a flock.

And that is where Jesus steps in, as we read in today’s gospel. As he looks at his people — God’s chosen family — he sees how wounded and lost they are; how polarized they have become. Jesus knows what he needs to do. He calls together the Twelve — a significant number. Jesus saw himself as reuniting his people after a season of painful separation from one another.

Today, Jesus continues to call people to participate in the ministry of reconciliation. Can you imagine your name included among the “twelve” as one who will help heal a divided nation?

~ Ann M. Garrido

Reflect

Do I unite people by my words and actions, or am I more of a divider?

Authors

MIGUEL DULICK: Michael Dulick earned post-graduate degrees in English, Spanish, and Philosophy, as well as a Master of Divinity. During his studies, he discovered Honduras, where he has lived since 2003 as “Hermano Miguel,” to live and pray with the poor in the village of Las Vegas. His donation-supported work is to keep families together rather than risking their lives to migrate to the United States. In 2007, Miguel adopted Anselmo, a 13-year-old orphan, so he could sign the forms that allowed Anselmo to receive life-saving open-heart surgery. And now he is Abuelo Miguel with a granddaughter, three-year-old Alicia!

ANN M. GARRIDO: Ann Garrido is the oldest of eight siblings in a large Catholic family from St. Louis, Missouri.  Her childhood dream of sharing the faith as a teacher and preacher has taken her to all 50 states and 20 countries. Ann is Associate Professor of Homiletics at Aquinas Institute of Theology and a longtime formation leader in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd movement. She currently lives in Georgia with Mike, her husband of more than thirty years. For more on Ann and her writing, see anngarrido.com.

 
FR. BYRON MILLER, CSsR: Fr. Byron Miller, CSsR, was director of the National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos in New Orleans from 2000 to 2015, before serving as president and publisher of Liguori Publications until 2023. In 2021, he authored Daybreaks: Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter for pilgrims on the perennial Lenten journey to Easter.

 
FR. THOMAS M. SANTA, CSsR: Fr. Thomas M. Santa, CSsR, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was professed as a Redemptorist in 1973 and ordained a priest in June of 1978. He is a graduate of Holy Redeemer College (Waterford, Wisconsin) and the State University of New York (Mount Saint Alphonsus). His work has included teaching theology, directing retreats, Scrupulous Anonymous ministry, and he is the author of numerous books and articles. Fr. Santa is currently serving his second assignment as the President/Publisher of Liguori Publications.