Daily Readings - Thu Jul 13 2023
Genesis
18Then Judah went up to him and said, "O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself.19My lord asked his servants, saying, 'Have you a father, or a brother?'20And we said to my lord, 'We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother's children, and his father loves him.'21Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.'23Then you said to your servants, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall not see my face again.'24"When we went back to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.25And when our father said, 'Go again, buy us a little food,'26we said, 'We cannot go down. If our youngest brother goes with us, then we will go down. For we cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.'27Then your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons.28One left me, and I said, Surely he has been torn to pieces, and I have never seen him since.29If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol.'
1Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, "Make everyone go out from me." So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.2And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.3And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.4So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.5And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Matthew
7And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.9Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts,10no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.11And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.12As you enter the house, greet it.13And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.14And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.15Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on trust in God’s providence and the call to live with simplicity and generosity. In the first reading, Judah steps forward to plead with Joseph, unaware that Joseph is his brother. Judah’s words reveal a deep trust in God’s plan, even in the face of uncertainty. He acknowledges the suffering of his father and the delicate situation of his brother Benjamin, showing a sense of responsibility and compassion. This moment marks a turning point for Judah, who has grown from a brother who once callously sold Joseph into slavery to one who now takes responsibility for his family’s well-being. The reading reminds us that our trials can lead to growth and that trust in God’s plan, even when we do not fully understand it, is essential.
In the Gospel, Jesus sends out his disciples with a clear mission: to preach the kingdom of heaven, to heal the sick, and to cast out demons. He instructs them to travel lightly, without material possessions or concern for comfort, trusting that God will provide for their needs. This teaching challenges us to live simply and to rely on God’s providence. Jesus emphasizes that the laborer is worthy of their portion, but true worth is found in trusting God and living generously. The disciples’ mission is not just about what they do but about how they live—free from attachment to worldly goods and fully dependent on God.
These readings relate to each other in their emphasis on trust and surrender. Judah’s trust in God’s plan, despite the unknown, mirrors the disciples’ trust in God’s providence as they go out on mission. Both stories call us to let go of our need for control and security and instead to embrace a life of faith and simplicity. In our daily lives, we are invited to trust that God is at work, even when circumstances seem uncertain. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust God enough to let go of our fears and attachments? Are we willing to live with simplicity and generosity, knowing that God will provide? May we, like Judah and the disciples, step forward in faith, trusting that God’s plan is greater than our own.