In today’s Gospel, the apostles are named: ‘The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him’.

These twelve apostles will be the foundation of the new Israel, the Church. St Paul writes: ‘You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit’.

So we are firmly established on a sure foundation, whatever the transient storms may be. May the apostles pray for us, and may God bless you this day.