"Such confidence we have through Christ toward God."

Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit
for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God, who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant,
not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

-- 2 Cor 3:4-11

Jesus unites them to the mission he received from the Father. As "the Son can do nothing of his own accord," but receives everything from the Father who sent him, so those whom Jesus sends can do nothing apart from him, from whom they received both the mandate for their mission and the power to carry it out. Christ's apostles knew that they were called by God as "ministers of a new covenant," "servants of God," "ambassadors for Christ," "servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God."

-- CCC 859

(Celebrating the Year of Saint Paul: the abbey church at Tre Fontane. More info here. Photo by author.)