Daily Readings - Wed Jul 12 2023
Genesis
55When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do."56So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.57Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.
5Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.6Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.7Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. "Where do you come from?" he said. They said, "From the land of Canaan, to buy food."17And he put them all together in custody for three days.18On the third day Joseph said to them, "Do this and you will live, for I fear God:19if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households,20and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die." And they did so.21Then they said to one another, "In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us."22And Reuben answered them, "Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood."23They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them.24Then he turned away from them and wept. And he returned to them and spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.
Matthew
1And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.2The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.5These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.7And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on leadership, responsibility, and the call to serve others. The first reading from Genesis presents Joseph, now a governor in Egypt, who uses his authority to test his brothers, leading them towards repentance. Despite their past wrongs, Joseph's actions are guided by a deeper purpose—to bring his family together and ensure their survival. His leadership is marked by wisdom and compassion, as he confronts them with their past sins, prompting them to acknowledge their guilt and seek redemption.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus, who commissions his twelve disciples to spread the message of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus gives them authority to heal and cast out spirits, instructing them to focus their mission on the lost sheep of Israel. This mission is not about personal gain or recognition but about serving others with humility and love. The disciples are called to embody the values of the kingdom, bringing hope and healing to those in need.
Both readings remind us that true leadership and authority are not about power but about service. Joseph and the disciples demonstrate that our positions and talents are gifts meant to be used for the greater good. In our daily lives, we are called to lead with compassion, using our unique roles to uplift and serve others. Let us embrace this call with humility, recognizing that our actions have the power to bring people closer to God and to each other.