Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 7, 2021
First Reading: Genesis 41.55-57; 42.5-7a, 17-24
55And being hungry, the people cried out to Pharaoh, asking for provisions. And he said to them: "Go to Joseph. And do whatever he will tell you.56Then the famine increased daily in all the land. And Joseph opened all of the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. For the famine had oppressed them also57And all the provinces came to Egypt, to buy food and to temper the misfortune of their destitution
5And they entered into the land of Egypt with the others who traveled to buy. For the famine was in the land of Canaan6And Joseph was governor in the land of Egypt, and grain was sold under his direction to the people. And when his brothers had reverenced him7and he had recognized them, he spoke harshly, as if to foreigners, questioning them: "Where did you come from?" And they responded, "From the land of Canaan, to buy necessary provisions.17Therefore, he delivered them into custody for three days18Then, on the third day, he brought them out of prison, and he said: "Do as I have said, and you will live. For I fear God19If you are peaceful, let one of your brothers be bound in prison. Then you may go away and carry the grain that you have bought to your houses20And bring your youngest brother to me, so that I may be able to test your words, and you may not die." They did as he had said21and they spoke to one another: "We deserve to suffer these things, because we have sinned against our brother, seeing the anguish of his soul, when he begged us and we would not listen. For that reason, this tribulation has come upon us.22And Reuben, one of them, said: "Did not I say to you, ‘Do not sin against the boy,’ and you would not listen to me? See, his blood is exacted.23But they did not know that Joseph understood, because he was speaking to them through an interpreter24And he turned himself away briefly and wept. And returning, he spoke to them
Psalm 33
1A Psalm of David. Exult in the Lord, you just ones; together praise the upright2Confess to the Lord with stringed instruments; sing psalms to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings3Sing to him a new song. Sing psalms to him skillfully, with loud exclamation4For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his works are in faith5He loves mercy and judgment. The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord6By the word of the Lord, the heavens were established, and all their power, by the Spirit of his mouth7gathering together the waters of the sea, as if in a container, placing the depths in storage8Let all the earth fear the Lord, and may all the inhabitants of the world quake before him9For he spoke, and they became. He commanded, and they were created10The Lord scatters the counsels of the nations. Moreover, he reproves the thoughts of the people, and he rejects the counsels of the leaders11But the counsel of the Lord remains for eternity, the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation12Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his inheritance13The Lord has looked down from heaven. He has seen all the sons of men14From his well-prepared dwelling place, he has gazed upon all who dwell on the earth15He has formed the hearts of each one of them; he understands all their works16The king is not saved by great power, nor will the giant be saved by his many powers17The horse is false safety; for he will not be saved by the abundance of his powers18Behold, the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him and on those who hope in his mercy19so as to rescue their souls from death and to feed them during famine20Our soul remains with the Lord. For he is our helper and protector21For in him, our heart will rejoice, and in his holy name, we have hoped22Let your mercy be upon us, O Lord, just as we have hoped in you
Gospel: Matthew 10.1-7
1And having called together his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to cure every sickness and every infirmity2Now the names of the twelve Apostles are these: the First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother3James of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector, and James of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus4Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him5Jesus sent these twelve, instructing them, saying: "Do not travel by the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter into the city of the Samaritans6but instead go to the sheep who have fallen away from the house of Israel7And going forth, preach, saying: ‘For the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, compassion, and the fulfillment of God's plan. The first reading from Genesis presents Joseph, now a powerful leader in Egypt, as he confronts his brothers who have come seeking relief from the famine. Despite their past betrayal, Joseph uses his authority not to punish but to test their integrity and ultimately to bring about reconciliation. This story highlights the themes of forgiveness and the unfolding of God's providence, even in the face of human sin and suffering.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus, who commissions his twelve apostles to go forth and preach the Good News to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel." Jesus empowers them to heal the sick and cast out unclean spirits, but he also instructs them to remain focused on their mission, avoiding distractions and staying true to their calling. This passage reminds us that we, too, are called to be instruments of God's grace in the world, using the gifts and talents we have been given to serve others and to spread the message of the kingdom of heaven.
These readings remind us that our lives are part of a larger story, one shaped by God's plan and our response to it. Like Joseph, we are called to trust in God's providence, even when circumstances seem uncertain or difficult. Like the apostles, we are called to step out in faith, using our unique roles and talents to serve others and to bring light and hope into a world in need. May we embrace these lessons, living with compassion, integrity, and a deep trust in the God who guides us all.