Jesus sent out these twelve* after instructing them thus, "Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 10:5-6
As Christians, we are often encouraged to go to foreign lands for mission trips. Many of my friends and coworkers have done this. God call us to go out into the whole world proclaiming the good news (Matt 25). But before we do that we need to take care of our own house. Jesus tells the tweleve in today's gospel to stay in the area and find the lost sheep and evangelize to them. There's so much work to be done right here in our own country and in our own community. This was also a teaching moment for the twelve to prepare for the bigger trip. What does this mean for you and me? Maybe we can bring the lost back in our own homes, workplaces or in our neighborhood. If we can take care of the people we know, then we can expand our reach to others, even in foreign lands!
Question for Reflection
How can I recognize the lost and bring them back to Christ?
Lord, give me the courage to be an evangelist for you!
