Posted by The WORD in other words (2006) by Frater Jonathan A. Letada, SVD – Divine Word Seminary of Tagaytay
Among the miracles of Jesus, physical transformation and exorcisms stand out. The last verses of the Gospel today encapsulate probably a daily grind for Jesus – touching sick people and they get healed.
The preceding verses however is also a proclamation of another miracle, albeit of a different kind – His choosing of the twelve apostles. Joining together persons of diverse characteristics, in many instances even “irreconcilable,” is not only short of a miracle but a miracle per se.
Take Matthew and Simon the Zealot: Matthew a former ally of the Roman colonizers because he collected taxes for them, therefore a traitor, while Simon belongs to the Zealot party, a rebel group of fanatical nationalists who swear to slit the throat of traitors and every Roman that comes their way.
Take Peter and Thomas: Peter, always the impulsive one, the aggressive type, who acts before he thinks, while Thomas is the observant one, almost skeptical, the person who wants to see before believing. That these and the rest stayed together even from the extreme ends of the character spectrum is one of the great miracles of Christ.
Differences cannot be avoided. Christ presents himself as the bridge to join not to cancel these differences. It makes a miraculous difference if husbands and wives, families, lay and religious communities would once again put Christ in the center of their union.
