What a fascinating juxtaposition of readings today.
On one hand, we have the minor prophet Hosea describing the
sad state of spiritual affairs in the northern kingdom of Israel. Recall,
northern Israel had separated from Judah—politically and religiously. The North
set up its own religion: it had this strange practice of worshipping both Yahweh
AND the various pagan gods. And for a time, as Hosea described, northern Israel
experienced some prosperity. But, the
more prosperous Northern Israel grew, the more corrupt the people became and
the more they failed to be grateful to God for His blessings. The went from
having a divided heart, to a heart that failed to acknowledge the one true God
at all.
And for this, as Hosea prophesied, they lost God’s Divine
Blessing, became subject to their enemies, and would be destroyed.
Contrast that reading, to the Gospel passage today—the naming
of the twelve—their initial commission to preach the Gospel to Israel, which
later in Matthew’s Gospel, would become a commission to preach to all nations—which
is the mission of the Holy, Catholic, Church.
What’s the connection between these two readings? The Gospel
reminds us of our mission, and the first reading reminds us to whom we are
being sent.
We have been commissioned to preach the Gospel to a world with
a divided heart, prone to forgetting about God in times of prosperity,
vulnerable to bringing itself to the verge of collapse. These are the people to
whom we are sent.
And that mission requires courage. It takes courage to speak
of God to a world that often does not want to hear His name, courage to witness
to the truth when hearts are divided and confused, courage to remain faithful
when others have grown indifferent, cynical, or hostile.
But, courage must also be joined to patience. The divided
heart is not usually healed in an instant. Conversion often takes time. People
caught in confusion, sin, resentment, or unbelief may resist grace before they
receive it. Hosea preached to a people who were slow to listen. The apostles
themselves would often be rejected. And yet the Lord still sent them.
So, too for us. We must not give up on those who seem far
from God, or discouraged because the world is confused—the word of God describes
it as such. The Lord knew exactly what kind of world He was sending His
apostles into. And He knows exactly what kind of world He sends us into.
Our task is not to give up when things get hard. Our task is
to be faithful: to speak the truth with charity, to bear witness with courage,
to pray for the lost, to invite patiently, to trust that grace can work in
hidden ways. May the Lord give us apostolic courage without bitterness,
patience without cowardice, and hearts undivided in His service, for the glory
of God and the salvation of souls.
For the Holy Church of God: that she may remain faithful to
the mission entrusted to the apostles, preaching the Gospel with courage,
charity, and patience, let us pray to the Lord.
For the nations of the world: that in times of prosperity
they may not forget God, but seek justice, peace, and the protection of the
vulnerable, let us pray to the Lord.
For the conversion of all whose hearts are divided by sin,
confusion, resentment, or unbelief.
For all missionaries, evangelists, catechists, parents, and
teachers: that they may not grow discouraged when their witness is resisted,
but may persevere with apostolic courage, let us pray to the Lord.
For the sick, the suffering, the discouraged, and all who
feel far from God: that they may encounter the compassion of Christ through the
prayers and witness of His Church, let us pray to the Lord.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory,
and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and
listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through
Christ our Lord
