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For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.
This week’s reading from Matthew records the moment when Jesus summons and sends out the 12 disciples. Up to this point, Jesus has been a singular teacher, but here he calls the Twelve as partners and collaborators to preach, teach, and heal alongside him. The passage begins narrowly with a focused description of Jesus’ holistic mission to care for the minds, bodies, and souls of the people he meets. It ends by echoing much of this language to describe the work of the Twelve. Jesus calls them to “cure every disease and sickness” and “proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’” Matthew’s parallel structure and parallel language demonstrate that the 12 disciples are summoned, commissioned, and equipped by Jesus to preach, teach, and heal just as he does. The one has become many.
