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b'(Acts1:15-17,20a,20c-26;\\xa0\\xa0 Ps.103:1-2,11-12,19-20;\\xa0\\xa0 1Jn.4:11-16;\\xa0\\xa0 Jn.17:11b-19)\\xa0 \\u201cAs you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.\\u201d Jesus sent the apostles forth, and \\u201cnone of them was lost except the son of destruction\\u201d; and Judas was lost only \\u201cthat the Scripture might be fulfilled,\\u201d that the betrayal of the Christ might be accomplished.\\xa0 Otherwise, those whom He sent He also protected, He also guarded well from the evil one, that what must be accomplished in them should likewise be brought to fulfillment \\u2013 that they be one with Jesus in the Father and bring His holy Name to the world, that all might be gathered together as one in God\\u2019s truth and His love. To begin the accomplishment of this mission after the departure of the Christ, the principal soul whom Jesus sends stands up in the midst of all his brothers and calls for the replacement of Judas, that Scripture \\u2013 \\u201cmay another take his office\\u201d \\u2013 continue to be fulfilled.\\xa0 Matthias is chosen by the Lord to become the twelfth \\u201cwitness to His resurrection,\\u201d and so \\u201cthe apostolic ministry\\u201d is now in place; and so the army of God can now go forth to reveal that \\u201cHis kingdom rules over all.\\u201d And what is His kingdom, brothers and sisters, but a kingdom of love?\\xa0 Our beloved John ever makes this clear, ever emphasizes this essential word of truth, and we must declare in truth his essential word of God\\u2019s love: \\u201cWe have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.\\u201d\\xa0 His proclamation must be our own. \\xa0We must see and know how the Lord guards us, how He protects us from the snares of the world and preserves us in His love by putting \\u201cour transgressions [far] from us,\\u201d that we might praise His name in faith even unto heaven.\\xa0 We must say with John, \\u201cWe have seen and testify that the Father sent His Son as savior of the world.\\u201d\\xa0 In genuine recognition of this basic truth we shall find the love of God living in us. And \\u201cif God so loved us\\u201d by sending His only Son to us, \\u201cwe must love one another\\u201d by heeding His call to be sent to others.\\xa0 Like Matthias and the apostles, we too have a blessed vocation in Christ to bring His love and His truth to this dying world.\\xa0 To this let us consecrate ourselves as freely as has our Jesus, as freely as the Twelve\\u2026 \\u201cthat we might share [the Lord\\u2019s] joy completely.\\u201d\\xa0 We \\u201cdo not belong to the world any more than [He] belong[s] to the world\\u201d: let us find our place in His kingdom. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Can You Love?" (part B of "Liars Don\'t Love, Lovers Don\'t Lie")\\xa0from Loving Spirit, third album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, keep us in your Name from the evils of the world that we might remain in your love. YHWH, send us forth in your Name and that of your Son; you are God and Father of all and Jesus shares in your glory.\\xa0 May we come to share in that same glory by the love you have shown us in sending your Son, and may we share that love with all. Your Word of truth take not from our souls, dear LORD, but let it be spoken in our every breath.\\xa0 Your love dwell ever in us that we might dwell ever in you and do your will in all things.\\xa0 O let us be consecrated to you with your Son!\\xa0 Let us be made sacred in your sight, that indeed we might be your children, your apostles of love and truth. Count us among your disciples, LORD, you who are mighty and rule over all, that freed from our sins your love might be perfected in us and we become one with you in Heaven.\\xa0 For us has Jesus laid down His life in perfect love \\u2013 may we acknowledge His Sonship and so share in your love.'