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M
EMORIAL
OF
S
AINT
B
ENEDICT
,
ABBOT
Hosea 10:1-3, 7-9, 12
Psalm 105: 2-7
Matthew 10:1-7
S
UMMARY
Hosea likens Israel to a luxuriant vine which, with abundant fruit,
builds more and more "altars and sacred pillars". This sin of Israel will
end with thorns and thistles overgrowing those falsely sacred places.
Instead, the prophet exhorts Israel to "sow for yourselves jus-
tice....break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the
Lord...".
The psalmist sings, "Seek always the face of the Lord.....Look to the
Lord in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. Recall the won-
drous deeds that he has wrought, his portents and judgments he has
uttered".
Matthew recounts Jesus' great injunction to his disciples: "Go ...to
the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this procla-
mation: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand."
R
EFLECTION
Is it not true that we, as disciples, are called to "go...to the lost
sheep"? Is not also true that we, ourselves are often the lost ones?
My experience tells me that these statements are both true.
And what does our 'lostness' look like? We flourish and we forget the
Giver of our blessings. Instead, we build monuments to our success.
Our God is constantly seeking us, and that is our hope and our salva-
tion. And what are we to do? "Sow for yourselves justice....break up
for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the Lord".