Can you help clean our own house?

Mike is having some computer issues... so here is Today's. Peace, Andy D.

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

In today's gospel (Matthew 17:14-20), Jesus commands the twelve disciples to go out and reclaim "the lost sheep of Israel ." His gives them the authority to cast out unclean spirits, heal disease and every infirmity. They are told that their mission is not to evangelize the Gentiles and the Samaritans, but to focus on their fellow Jews. We face a similar challenge today. Do you realize that the Roman Catholic church is the largest religion in the United States . Unfortunately the second largest religion is non practicing Catholics. There's 50 million Catholics and 15 million non practicing. Sometimes we get so focused on converting our protestant brothers and sisters to Catholicism that we miss our own fallen Catholic brothers and sisters. Jesus is telling his disciples that they need to cleanup their own house before they can cleanup their neighbors. Jesus commissioned the twelve to do the same things that he did. God also commissions us to do the same. We are called to help put our own house in order. Can you think of any friends who are Catholics who you haven't seen at church in a while? Invite them back into the fold. Jesus preached that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand." We are creating the kingdom here and now. We don't have to wait, its all around us. When we help bring our brothers and sisters back to the house, we expand the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is calling you to be one of the twelve. Hear the call for God wants to work through you and in you to bring about the kingdowm of heaven for everyone.

A Simple Prayer Lord, I am your servant, use me as you will. The fire of the Holy Spirit is in me, may it light the way to you.

Yours in Christ Michael Marcon