Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 13, 2023
First Reading: Genesis 44.18-21, 23b-29; 45.1-5
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.
Psalm 105
1O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.2Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.3Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.4Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.5Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;6O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.7He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.8He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.9Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;10And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:11Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:12When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.13When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;14He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;15Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.16Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.17He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:18Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:19Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.20The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.21He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:22To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.23Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.24And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.25He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.26He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.27They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.28He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.29He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.30Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.31He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.32He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.33He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.34He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,35And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.36He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.37He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.38Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.39He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.40The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.41He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.42For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.43And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:44And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;45That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.
Gospel: Matthew 10.7-15
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
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.