As I read today’s gospel, I asked myself “what can I learn from this scripture?”. I was initially distracted by the bulk of the reading being the disciples’ names, but once I got back on track, I realized how much is buried within this passage.

Jesus called his disciples by name. He did not say “Hey you guys, go do these important things.” He said the name of each man He wanted to send out into the world, thus making them feel personally charged with what He wanted them to accomplish. Now just think, Jesus calls us each by name as well. He knows us, inside and out- but what is He charging us to do? Many things, I am sure, although a great example is provided right here for us within this scripture! We are tasked with finding the lost sheep, and bringing them home. Yes, this could be about proselytization. We could go out and proclaim to the masses that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

However, I am a fan of a more subtle method. I feel called to show God’s love to others by way of example. Each and every day I try my hardest to let God’s love shine through me onto those who need it most. Is it the new person at work or school? Maybe I pass by someone new to the area who is literally lost, and help them out find their way! Being a stranger isn’t a requirement for this act of love, those I know well are sometimes lost emotionally, spiritually, or in their personal lives. Giving advice, or empathetically walking with them, are all ways I attempt to assist others in finding a path and “bring them home”.

Lastly, Jesus called even Judas by name. What is there to learn from this? I know it is something I don’t want to listen to… it is the lesson that even those who have wronged us or those we don’t get along with are deserving of the same treatment we provide to all the rest of humanity. I push myself to argue that they may even be deserving of more than the rest, since they have clearly demonstrated a need for it. I have never been more reminded of this than my recent time spent on rotation with a pharmacist who works on an inpatient psychiatric ward in a local hospital. The patients I had the honor of helping to treat were among the most lost I have ever encountered. They have hurt themselves, those around them, and often feel like the world is out to get them. This sense of betrayal and hopelessness causes them to act out because they feel as if things cannot get any worse, so they may as well behave poorly. They drive away their friends, their family, and try to do the same to the team I worked with. But these healthcare professionals… they don’t back down from a challenge. Despite the hurt and betrayal and frustration these patients threw at them, they kept coming back. They came back with support, with action plans, with medical care, all in an attempt to help these patients find their way “home”.  That was God’s love shining through.

Oh God, you have the power to heal all brokenness here on earth. Please help myself and others who feel called to heal, to minister to those who need help finding their way home. Bless us with the strength to give ourselves to the lost, but to not lose ourselves in the process. Amen.