The first reading, from Acts, shows the Holy Spirit operating in the apostolic Church. Jesus has already appointed the Twelve as leaders of a visible, structured organism. The Twelve have authority to teach and sanctify by presiding at the sacraments and preaching. Since the earliest times of Christianity there has always been a certain suspicion of structures and hierarchy in the Church. Any group needs a structure, and the Lord provided us with the apostolic succession, the priesthood, the sacraments, to structure His own mystical body. He wants it to be a visible, tangible presence on earth.
St. John the Baptist PNCC
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