Daily Readings - Thu Jul 13 2023
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.
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
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.