The Twelve Apostles

Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12
Mathew 10:1-7

The wickedness among the people of Israel and their infidelity became worse. They were endangering their lives more and more thinking that they were fruitful. Hosea, the 8th century BCE prophet, lived in this time of Israel’s affluence. “The more abundant his (Israel’s) fruit, the more altars he built. The more productive his land, the more sacred pillars he set up.” Hosea 10: 1-3.
Hosea pointed out that Israel, God’s chosen ones had lost their way and sought security and happiness in what could never meet their deepest longings.
They were building security in things instead of trusting in the Lord. Hosea called his people to respond: sow for yourselves justice! live in integrity.

In the Gospel, Jesus sends his neophyte apostles on a sort of pilot project. They are sent, not to all nations, as they will be challenged to do at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, but to their fellow Jews. They were to heal and do good works and later on, they return astonished at what God had accomplished through them in their “practice sessions.”

In our world, divided by war, street and domestic murders, kidnapping, terrorism, environmental destruction, physical and mental illness, homelessness, hunger, racism, bigotry, loneliness, political propaganda, calumny and despair, what gives you hope?The news each day is enough to diminish or even extinguish our transforming Christian faith. The litany of dark, breaking stories can push us to protect ourselves and our loved ones in selfish silos of entertainment like sports, fine food, music, movies, video games and manic schedules that prohibit any self-reflection, let along prayer. What can we do?

God calls us, not to comforting escapism, but to seek integrity and justice. We must continue to spread the message of salvation to the ends of the earth. We must sow justice in our homes, among our friends, in our communities, nation and world. It means responding to refugees in crisis, showing compassion for the ill, fighting for people’s right to food and water, shelter, healthcare, education, security, clean environment, a living wage and respect. This is God’s justice.
Each of us, in our intimate relationship with God, cultivated by prayer and study, must find our own place to do God’s work. We are God’s instruments in making it happen.

God give you Peace!

Osho

Credit:
This article is written by Rev Fr. Joseph Osho OSJ. Please visit his personal blog @ https://www.blogger.com/profile/10377666931103644634
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