The first reading begins with a sense of optimism. A new king, Hoseah, was on the throne. The land was again producing its fruit as it recovers from a war with Assyria. But hopes of a moral and spiritual reform in Samaria have turned into empty words and false promises. The worship of pagan gods continues to prevail. The stone pillars, representing the foreign god, Baal, are still being built.

Therefore, there is a warning. A new and worse invasion by Assyria will come. The present king will suffer the same fate as the previous one because he too allowed the worship of false gods. The destruction this time will be so severe that the people will "cry out to the mountains... Fall on us." The reading ends by entreating the people to "go seeking the Lord" until he brings salvation. The responsorial psalm echoes the similar sentiments, "let the hearts that seek the Lord, rejoice."

Nevertheless, in the Gospel passage, we read it is the Lord who goes out seeking his own. Jesus, the Promised Messiah, summons the twelve apostles, gives them authority and sends them out to seek the "lost sheep of the House of Israel." Although they are told to avoid the cities of non-Jews and Samaritans, salvation will eventually come to these places (see 28:19). God never forsakes His people. Even if we turn our hearts away from Him, He keeps seeking, calling us to return to Him. May we listen to the psalmist who says, "Harden not your hearts today but listen to the voice of the Lord."