When I first read today’s gospel I was at a loss as to what I might reflect on from this passage. I saw the naming of Jesus’ twelve closest disciples as merely a list of familiar figures. But then I noticed what Jesus tells them when he sends them out: “go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Jesus’ direction to his disciples to proclaim the good news to their fellow Israelites and not to the Samaritans and Gentiles might seem like the Gospel was meant only for one group of people and not for others. We know, of course, that this is not true. The Gospel of Matthew ends with the “Great Commission” where Jesus tells his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations” (28:19). At this point in his ministry, however, Jesus is emphasizing Israel as God’s long standing chosen people and perhaps he is giving his disciples a slightly more manageable assignment as new evangelists.

We are called to spread the Gospel just like the disciples in today’s reading. This makes me think about how I might focus my efforts on fellow Catholics who have fallen away from the faith. Perhaps they are like the “lost sheep of Israel” for Jesus’ disciples in this reading because I share a faith tradition with them. How many of us know Catholics who are not practicing their faith for one reason or another? Probably all of us. A phone call or text message to let someone know that I am praying for him or her might start a larger conversation. The idea of evangelization can be challenging, so why not start with the people who are closest to us? Maybe that is exactly where Jesus wants us to begin.