Jesus summons the twelve and asks them to go toward the lost sheep. This recurring image of the lost sheep in the gospels can touch deeply and convey so much. It may speak to our own past or current helplessness, to our thirst for care and mercy. It may evoke the memory of loved ones whose lives have taken different paths. Above all, I think, it evokes our desire for an encounter that is true, deep, and loving.
Let us pray for that encounter with Love. Let us ask that we may be given the grace to meet others where they are, conveying love and mercy in new and creative ways.