Daily Readings - Wed Jul 07 2021
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, 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.