Today's first reading presents a bleak picture of the Kingdom of Israel. The more luxurious the life of the people became, the more alters and shrines they built to pagan gods. The more affluence increased among them, the more the people wandered from faithfulness to God. Hosea tried to warn them of their infidelity. He called on them to repent, to purify their hearts and to seek God. In spite of their unfaithfulness, God never gave up on His people.

In the Gospel we see Jesus choosing the 12 and sending them out to recover "the lost sheep of the house of Israel". He wanted the 12 for the moment to confine their attention to their own people - to give them the first opportunity. Ultimately, however, the Gospel was to be communicated through the apostles to all peoples.

Today, we are the recipients of the Gospel. It is God's almighty power which has been responsible for the spread of the "faith" and it is God's grace which has opened our hearts to accept that "faith". God alone can protect us from the pitfalls of our culture. We are always under His constant and watchful care. Yes, God never gives up on us and we must never give up on Him.