The Great Fifty Days of Easter - Day 6 - April 6th

Day 6:  April 6th
Apostle
1 Corinthians 15:9 (NIV)

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Apostle (noun):  one who was commissioned and sent by a community to preach the gospel

In today's verse, Paul continues his explanation of why he sees himself as "the least of the apostles" and why he does not deserve to even be called an apostle.  By definition, the disciples were apostles of Jesus because Jesus commissioned them and sent them out to preach the gospel.  They had been students of Jesus, the definition of a disciple.  But it wasn't until after Jesus' resurrection when the eleven went to Galilee to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go that they became apostles.  (See Matthew 28:16-20)  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  But Paul, too, was called by Jesus to become an apostle.  But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.  (Acts 9:15 NIV)  Paul was His "chosen instrument" -- his apostle -- one who was commissioned and sent to preach the gospel.

All apostles are disciples, but not all disciples are apostles.  What are you?  Are you a student of Jesus Christ?  Or are you also an apostle of Jesus Christ -- someone who is willing to go out into the world and preach the Good News?

Are you a "chosen instrument" of Jesus Christ?  During your quiet reflection time today, remember the words of St. Francis of Assisi and use his words as your prayer for today: 

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.
 

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.