A reading from the Book of the Prophet Hosea 10:1-3,7-8,12

“It is the time to seek the Lord.”

Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased the more altars he built; as his country improved he improved his pillars. Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars, and destroy their pillars. For now they will say: “We have no king, for we fear not the LORD, and a king, what could he do for us?” Samaria’s king shall perish, like a chip on the face of the waters. The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us, and to the hills, fall upon us. Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain salvation upon you.

V/ The Word of the Lord.

R/ Thanks be to God

RESPONSORIAL PSALM                                                    Psalm 105:2-7

R. Constantly seek the Lord’s face.

1. O sing to him, sing his praise;

tell all his wonderful works!

Glory in his holy name;                                                    

let the hearts that seek the LORD rejoice. R

2. Turn to the LORD and his strength;

constantly seek his face.

Remember the wonders he has done,

his marvels and his words of judgement. R

3. O children of Abraham, his servant,

O descendants of the Jacob he chose,

he, the LORD, is our God;

his judgements are in all the earth. R

Verse Before The Gospel:      Mark 1:15

Alleluia. The kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the Gospel. Alleluia.

GOSPEL                    

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 10:1-7

Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel

At that time: Jesus called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These Twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

V/ The Gospel of the Lord.

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

Prayer over the Offerings     

May this oblation dedicated to your name

purify us, O Lord,

and day by day bring our conduct

closer to the life of heaven.

Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon            Ps 33: 9

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

blessed the man who seeks refuge in him.

Or       Mt 11: 28

Come to me, all who labour and are burdened,

and I will refresh you, says the Lord.

Prayer after Communion      

Grant, we pray, O Lord,

that, having been replenished by such great gifts,

we may gain the prize of salvation

and never cease to praise you.

Through Christ our Lord.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY

Seeking Out the “Lost Sheep” In Your In Your Neighborhoods.

Have you ever dreamed of being a missionary to some faraway, exotic place? You could travel the world and tell people about the Lord, while setting up hospitals and schools for those in need. But we all know how the reality of daily life keeps us anchored in one place. So much for missionary zeal!

Today’s Gospel reminds us, however, that missionary work does not begin with people halfway around the world. It starts with our next-door neighbors. We see Jesus telling his disciples to go to the people who look and act like them, people who speak the same language and share the same customs. Who knows? The disciples might have been on a first-name basis with some of them!

This is how God wants to work with us as well. He is calling us to go to the “lost sheep” in our neighborhoods. This does not lessen the call, and it by no means narrows your field of work. There are plenty of people in your own town who need friendship and comfort. Many have lost hope or been crushed by misfortune or economic hardship. Think of the young people struggling to find their way in life or the elderly widower whose loss of his wife has left him isolated and bitter. So many people! So much need!

You don’t have to learn another language or travel very far. You know many of the obstacles that these people are facing, since you probably face some of them yourself.

Today, ask the Lord to help you see the “lost sheep” in your own corner of the world. Ask him, also, to show you how to channel your desires and passions into missionary efforts. Maybe you feel a pang in your heart whenever you think about the lonely people in nursing homes. Maybe you feel a kinship with couples whose marriages are struggling. Maybe the cry of the homeless resonates in your mind. If you experience anything like this, it may well be the Spirit sending you out. He may be showing you your own special mission field!

POINT TO PONDER:God is calling us to go to the “lost sheep” in our neighborhoods.

VERSE TO REMEMBER:“Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6)

QUESTION TO CONSIDER:Lord, who are the lost sheep in my own corner of the world?  And how  am I going to channel  my  desires and passions into missionary efforts?

PRAYER:“Lord, send me to your lost sheep today.”