Daily Readings - Thu Jul 13 2017
First Reading - Genesis 44.18-21, 23b-29; 45.1-5
Genesis
18Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.19My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?20And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.21And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.23And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.24And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.25And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.26And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us.27And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:28And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:29And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
1Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.2And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.3And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.4And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.5Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Gospel - Matthew 10.7-15
Matthew
7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.9Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,10Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.11And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.12And when ye come into an house, salute it.13And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.14And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.15Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha 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.