Jesus, at the end of Saint Matthew’s gospel says, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; behold I am with you always to the end of the age.”
In this commissioning of the apostles, we see Jesus handing over authority of the Church to the apostles. They are to lead and teach. As we know, the apostles did not live forever. So what happens after they die? The apostles handed over their authority given to them by Jesus to men who they appointed as Bishops. All Bishops hold that same authority from Jesus that has been handed down for over 2,000 years. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “The church teaches that bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the Church, as such who is ever listening to them is listening to Christ…” (CC 862)
We even claim this as truth every Sunday at Mass when we say the Creed. “We believe in one, holy catholic and apostolic Church.” The Catechism says, “The whole Church is apostolic, in that she remains, through the successors of St. Peter and the other apostles, in communion of faith and life with her origin: in that she is “sent out” into the whole world.” (CC 863)
We too are called to share in this mission of the Church by order of our baptism. We are called to share Christ and His teachings with those we meet just like the apostles. With the help of the Holy Spirit under the direction and guidance of our Bishops, we too can “be an apostle” and share our love for Jesus with those we encounter.