Daily Readings - Wed Jul 10 2019
Genesis
55And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.56And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.57And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.
5And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.6And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.7And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.17And he put them all together into ward three days.18And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:19If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:20But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.21And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.22And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.23And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.24And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.
Matthew
1And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The 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 publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;4Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.5These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, mission, and the providence of God. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Joseph, a man who, despite being wronged by his brothers, rises to a position of power in Egypt. When his brothers come to him seeking relief from the famine, Joseph tests their integrity and ultimately reveals his identity, teaching them about the consequences of their actions and the mercy of God. This story highlights Joseph's wisdom and his ability to trust in God's plan, even in the face of personal betrayal.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus, who sends out his twelve disciples to proclaim the nearness of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus entrusts them with authority to heal and to cast out unclean spirits, but he also gives them clear instructions: they are to go only to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel." This mission is not about seeking comfort or recognition but about faithfully carrying out the task entrusted to them. Like Joseph, the disciples are called to trust in God's providence and to remain focused on their mission, even when the road ahead is uncertain.
Both readings remind us that our lives are not our own, but are part of a larger story shaped by God's plan. Joseph's story teaches us that even in the midst of suffering and betrayal, God is at work, guiding events toward a greater good. The Gospel reminds us that we, like the disciples, are called to trust in God's providence and to be faithful stewards of the mission entrusted to us. In our daily lives, we are invited to embrace this same trust and faithfulness, whether in our relationships, our work, or our struggles. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God's plan, even when the path is unclear? Are we willing to step out in faith, as Joseph and the disciples did, to fulfill the mission God has given us? May we, like them, find the courage to trust and to serve, knowing that God is always with us.