When Jesus gave his apostles their marching orders he told them, “Do not go into pagan territory… Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” He was very clear that his mission was to his own people. However, a few chapters later in St. Matthew’s Gospel Jesus was on vacation in Lebanon when one of the natives accosted him. He denied her request because she was not part of the lost sheep of Israel and, hence, not part of his mission. However, she prevailed upon him and that seemed to expand Jesus’ understanding of what his mission was. For us today, we must also expand our mission from just taking care of church-goers to include the whole neighborhood… and world!
JULY112018
By Church Staff
