Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.--Psalm 17:15
Mass readings: Acts 28:11-16,30-31 / Matthew 14:22-33
''Apostle'' comes from the Greek apostolos, meaning''sent'' -- generally on a commission. An apostle carried not only the message, but also the authority, of the one who sent him. Jesus is ''sent'' by the Father on a mission of salvation and Jesus, in turn, sends out His disciples (John 20:21) to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). In the first 12 chapters of Acts of the Apostles, Peter, the apostle of the Jews, predominates; the rest of Acts focuses on Paul, apostle to the Gentiles. But the real power at work behind all apostles is none other than the Holy Spirit.
The same Jesus sends out each one of us to be His witnesses. Our authority comes from the same Father, and we are empowered for this task by the same Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to be a faithful and courageous witness for Jesus.