"He appointed twelve whom he called apostles" Mark 3:14
He 'appointed'
-------------
There are a few things that needed to happen before this verse could
have been fulfilled.A few hidden truths are implicit in this verse. Let
us explore focussing on St. Thomas the Apostle.
Too often we move on from this verse understanding this to be some kind
of a group selection that was being made, but the fact is that each
person being selected for the task is named and it was a personal call
to each person.
Note the use of the word 'appointed' in contrast to other words we are also
familiar with like "suggested", "recommended" etc. An appointment signals the
end of a selection process.
An effective appointment to any office can happen only when there is a consent
from the appointee. We understand from hindsight that this was the time
of the appointment for the bishops of the regional churches. If the
Catholicose of the East was being 'appointed' at this time, Thomas's
wilful endorsement and wholehearted agreement to the appointment was
absolutely essential. When the 'appointer' is as charismatic a person as
Jesus Christ, this process of endorsement from the 'appointee' might
seem relatively easier to get, nevertheless the wilful approval of the appointee
was needed.
It is also significant to consider that before Jesus 'appointed' Thomas
as a guardian for His Church and specifically as 'the' guardian for His
Church in the East, Jesus would have checked off on some of the criteria
He himself had laid down as tests for discipleship. Let us look at
those for a bit:
Luke 14:26
"If anyone comes to Me,and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and
children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My
disciple."
That Thomas was chosen as the Apostle of India tells us that he passed this
test. Thomas indeed had none other than Jesus whom he loved more, neither his
parents nor family,not even his own life as would become apparent by the witness
of his life.
Luke 14:27
"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."
Thomas did not hesitate to carry his cross given by his Lord, which was to
travel to the far lands of India with the Gospel, bear the sufferings for the
Lord in India and finally become a martyr for the Church in India.
Luke 14:33
"None of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions."
Thomas left everything behind to work for his mission, his complete trust was in
the Lord as he undertook the dangerous trip eastwards.
Thomas fulfilled every criteria set for discipleship, and even more.
Preaching of Christ to the Gentiles was a new thing, not even completely
accepted at the time. Paul, who is generally considered the Apostle of the
Gentiles had to defend this cause of the Gentiles among Peter and others before
the idea was accepted. But Thomas was also an Apostle to the Gentiles, and it
required the courage and strength of a die-hard leader to be working with such
odds from outside and within. The character of Thomas shone through the stiff
challenges that confronted him in his unrelenting perseverance to follow his
Master to bring the Gospel to the shores of India. Thank God for Thomas our
Apostle!
Christ is Risen!
Mathew Samuel
Albany, NY
Part 3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/23255
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/23298
He 'appointed'
-------------
There are a few things that needed to happen before this verse could
have been fulfilled.A few hidden truths are implicit in this verse. Let
us explore focussing on St. Thomas the Apostle.
Too often we move on from this verse understanding this to be some kind
of a group selection that was being made, but the fact is that each
person being selected for the task is named and it was a personal call
to each person.
Note the use of the word 'appointed' in contrast to other words we are also
familiar with like "suggested", "recommended" etc. An appointment signals the
end of a selection process.
An effective appointment to any office can happen only when there is a consent
from the appointee. We understand from hindsight that this was the time
of the appointment for the bishops of the regional churches. If the
Catholicose of the East was being 'appointed' at this time, Thomas's
wilful endorsement and wholehearted agreement to the appointment was
absolutely essential. When the 'appointer' is as charismatic a person as
Jesus Christ, this process of endorsement from the 'appointee' might
seem relatively easier to get, nevertheless the wilful approval of the appointee
was needed.
It is also significant to consider that before Jesus 'appointed' Thomas
as a guardian for His Church and specifically as 'the' guardian for His
Church in the East, Jesus would have checked off on some of the criteria
He himself had laid down as tests for discipleship. Let us look at
those for a bit:
Luke 14:26
"If anyone comes to Me,and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and
children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My
disciple."
That Thomas was chosen as the Apostle of India tells us that he passed this
test. Thomas indeed had none other than Jesus whom he loved more, neither his
parents nor family,not even his own life as would become apparent by the witness
of his life.
Luke 14:27
"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."
Thomas did not hesitate to carry his cross given by his Lord, which was to
travel to the far lands of India with the Gospel, bear the sufferings for the
Lord in India and finally become a martyr for the Church in India.
Luke 14:33
"None of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions."
Thomas left everything behind to work for his mission, his complete trust was in
the Lord as he undertook the dangerous trip eastwards.
Thomas fulfilled every criteria set for discipleship, and even more.
Preaching of Christ to the Gentiles was a new thing, not even completely
accepted at the time. Paul, who is generally considered the Apostle of the
Gentiles had to defend this cause of the Gentiles among Peter and others before
the idea was accepted. But Thomas was also an Apostle to the Gentiles, and it
required the courage and strength of a die-hard leader to be working with such
odds from outside and within. The character of Thomas shone through the stiff
challenges that confronted him in his unrelenting perseverance to follow his
Master to bring the Gospel to the shores of India. Thank God for Thomas our
Apostle!
Christ is Risen!
Mathew Samuel
Albany, NY
Part 3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/23255
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/23298
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