Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 13, 2017
First Reading: Genesis 44.18-21, 23b-29; 45.1-5
18Then Judah, approaching closer, said confidently: "I beg you, my lord, let your servant speak a word in your ears, and do not be angry with your servant. For you are next to Pharaoh19My lord, you questioned your servants before: ‘Do you have a father or a brother?20And we answered you, my lord: ‘There is our father, an old man, and a young boy, who was born in his old age. His brother of the same womb has died, and he alone is left to his mother and father, who truly love him tenderly.21And you said to your servants, ‘Bring him to me, and I will set my eyes on him.23And you said to your servants: ‘Unless your youngest brother arrives with you, you will not see my face any more.24Therefore, when we had gone up to your servant our father, we explained to him all that my lord had spoken25And our father said: ‘Return and buy us a little wheat.26And we said to him: ‘We cannot go. If our youngest brother descends with us, we will set out together. Otherwise, in his absence, we do not dare to see the face of the man.27To which he responded: ‘You know that my wife conceived twice by me28One went out, and you said, "A beast devoured him." And since then, he has not appeared29If you take this one also, and anything happens to him on the way, you will lead my grey hairs down with grief to the grave.
1Joseph was unable to restrain himself any longer, standing before so many. Therefore, he instructed that all should go outside, and that no stranger should be among them as they recognized one another2And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians heard, along with the entire house of Pharaoh3And he said to his brothers: "I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?" His brothers were unable to respond, being terrified by a very great fear4And he said to them mildly, "Approach toward me." And when they had approached close by, he said: "I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt5Do not be afraid, and let it not seem to you to be a hardship that you sold me into these regions. For God sent me before you into Egypt for your salvation
Psalm 105
1Alleluia. Confess to the Lord, and invoke his name. Announce his works among the nations2Sing to him, and sing psalms to him. Describe all his wonders3Be praised in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice4Seek the Lord, and be confirmed. Seek his face always5Remember his miracles, which he has done, his portents and the judgments of his mouth6you offspring of Abraham his servant, you sons of Jacob his elect7He is the Lord our God. His judgments are throughout the entire earth8He has remembered his covenant for all ages: the word that he entrusted to a thousand generations9which he assigned to Abraham, and his oath to Isaac10And he stationed the same for Jacob with a precept, and for Israel with an eternal testament11saying: To you, I will give the land of Canaan, the allotment of your inheritance12Though they may have been but a small number, very few and foreigners there13and though they passed from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people14he allowed no man to harm them, and he reproved kings on their behalf15Do not be willing to touch my Christ, and do not be willing to malign my prophets16And he called a famine upon the land, and he crushed every foundation of the bread17He sent a man before them: Joseph, who had been sold as a slave18They humbled his feet in shackles; the iron pierced his soul19until his word arrived. The eloquence of the Lord inflamed him20The king sent and released him; he was the ruler of the people, and he dismissed him21He established him as master of his house and ruler of all his possessions22so that he might instruct his princes as himself, and teach his elders prudence23And Israel entered into Egypt, and Jacob became a sojourner in the land of Ham24And he helped his people greatly, and he strengthened them over their enemies25He turned their heart to hate his people, and to deal deceitfully with his servants26He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, the one whom he chose27He placed with them signs of his word, and portents in the land of Ham28He sent darkness and made it conceal, and he did not afflict them with his speech29He turned their waters into blood, and he slaughtered their fish30Their land brought forth frogs, even in the inner chambers of their kings31He spoke, and there came forth common flies and gnats, in every region32He gave them a shower of hail and a burning fire, in the same land33And he struck their vineyards and their fig trees, and he crushed the trees of their region34He spoke, and the locust came forth, and the caterpillar, of which there was no number35And it devoured all the grass in their land, and it consumed all the fruit of their land36And he struck all the first-born in their land, the first-fruits of all their labor37And he led them out with silver and gold, and there was not an infirm one among their tribes38Egypt was joyful at their departure, for the fear of them lay heavy upon them39He spread a cloud for their protection, and a fire, to give them light through the night40They petitioned, and the quail came; and he satisfied them with the bread of heaven41He ruptured the rock and the waters flowed: rivers gushed in the dry land42For he had called to mind his holy word, which he kept near to his servant Abraham43And he led forth his people in exultation, and his elect in rejoicing44And he gave them the regions of the Gentiles, and they possessed the labors of the peoples45so that they might observe his justifications, and inquire about his law
Gospel: Matthew 10.7-15
7And going forth, preach, saying: ‘For the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.8Cure the infirm, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You have received freely, so give freely9Do not choose to possess gold, nor silver, nor money in your belts10nor provisions for the journey, nor two tunics, nor shoes, nor a staff. For the laborer deserves his portion11Now, into whatever city or town you will enter, inquire as to who is worthy within it. And stay there until you depart12Then, when you enter into the house, greet it, saying, ‘Peace to this house.13And if, indeed, that house is worthy, your peace will rest upon it. But if it is not worthy, your peace will return to you14And whoever has neither received you, nor listened to your words, departing from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet15Amen I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound lessons on trust, forgiveness, and divine providence. The first reading from Genesis recounts the emotional reunion of Joseph with his brothers, highlighting Joseph's forgiveness and his recognition of God's plan in his life. Despite the betrayal he suffered, Joseph chooses mercy and reassures his brothers that their actions, though hurtful, were part of a larger divine plan for their salvation. This narrative underscores the themes of forgiveness and trust in God's providence.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus instructing His disciples to spread the Good News. He emphasizes reliance on God's providence, urging them to trust in divine care rather than material wealth. This teaching challenges us to embrace a life of faith and generosity, trusting that our needs will be met as we serve others. The message is clear: our mission is to share the love of God boldly, without attachment to worldly possessions.
Reflecting on these readings, we are reminded to trust in God's plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain. Like Joseph, we can choose forgiveness and see God's hand at work. Like the disciples, we are called to live with faith and generosity, sharing the Gospel with confidence. May we embrace these lessons, trusting in God's providence and living with hearts full of mercy and faith.