Equipped to work in the Kingdom

The refrain to the psalm in the Roman Catholic Lectionary for  today exhorts that we seek always the face of the Lord. Friar Jude Winkler comments that the choice of the people whom Hosea addresses in the first reading was to turn away from God in at least three ways. They adopted pagan practice to build monuments to fertility gods. The attention of the people to the Will of God was lessened as they lived with less piety and trust in God. The pursuit of wealth and political advantage lead to injustices towards the marginalized in the society. Joan Blandin Howard uses a common definition of ordinary to highlight the most extraordinary action that followers of Jesus accomplish as they live according to their calling. The Gospel from Matthew identifies the twelve who Friar Jude notes will become apostles or ambassadors for Jesus. The Enduring Word commentary on the text from Matthew notes that in receiving the power over unclean spirits and healing of sickness and disease that those who God calls are equipped by God to do what He asks. The lost of a king, in the prophecy of Hosea, which happens when Israel is destroyed by Assyria becomes Jesus direction to go the the lost sheep of Israel with the Good News of the Kingdom of God where the Love of the Sermon on the Mount would reign in the lives of those who decide to return to seeking the face of God as brothers and sisters of Jesus.