July 10, 2019 (Wednesday of Week 14 Year B)
The Lost sheep
Dear friends in Christ, it is easier to captain those who are willing to follow, to be a leader of a group that is loyal. It is however more tasking to go after the lost and the disloyal, to give another chance to those who do not deserve it. That is what Jesus calls his disciples to do, to seek out the lost.
In the first reading of today (Genesis 41:55-57;42:5-7a.17-24) we have the story of Joseph. It explains how the Jews came to Egypt in search for food which will lead to their relocation. Joseph the main person in this story had every reason to be bitter. He was loved by his father and had dreams of a future in which he will rule over his brothers. Out of jealousy, the brothers hatched a plan to kill him, but eventually they sold him to merchants who brought him into Egypt. He was honest, efficient, sincere, quick to forgive and kind. He resisted the seductive advances of Potiphar’s wife, which led him to prison, but from there he gave the right interpretation to the dreams of Pharaoh, and was placed in charge of the grains in the land in a time of famine. Rather than become bitter, his sufferings purified him and made him a better person. When his brothers came as a result of the famine, in search of grains, he recognised them even though they did not recognise him. He treated them like strangers but with respect and asked they bring their youngest brother. They realised then their fault and said, “In truth, we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he besought us and we would not listen; therefore is this distress come upon us.” We are called to seek out the lost, not to lead those in, astray.
In our society today, are we not guilty concerning our brothers and sisters, in the way we run the affairs of our nation? If the needy and the weak of the society who cry to us daily do not get a favourable answer, are we not opening the door for distress to come upon us and our nation? We cannot pretend that they do not exist, their conditions are open to us. We see them in our homes, places of work, worship centres and on the streets. It is their own time of need today, someday it may be our turn. Who will help?
In the gospel of today (Matthew 10:1-7) Jesus told his Apostles "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." This first mission will be restricted to Israel. The restrictive nature at this stage, is to help prepare them for the larger mission which will extend to the ends of the world. The message is clear, “Go and proclaim the message: The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (v.7).
Let us pray: Lord, we turn to you in our weakness, lift us up by your strength. Amen. May the Almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen