Daily Readings - Sat Jul 15 2023
Genesis
29And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,30In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.31There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.33And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.
15And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.16And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,17So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.18And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.19And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?20But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.21Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.22And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.23And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.24And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.25And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.26So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Matthew
24The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.25It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?26Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.27What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.29Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.31Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.32Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.33But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful themes of trust, forgiveness, and divine providence. The first reading from Genesis recounts the final moments of Jacob and the subsequent events as Joseph confronts his brothers. Jacob, nearing death, ensures he is buried in the land promised by God, symbolizing his unwavering trust in God's covenant. After Jacob's death, his brothers, fearing retribution, approach Joseph, who instead of vengeance, offers forgiveness. Joseph's profound statement, "You devised evil against me, but God turned it into good," illustrates his deep trust in God's plan, recognizing that even in adversity, God works for the good.
The Gospel from Matthew complements this narrative as Jesus prepares His disciples for the challenges of following Him. He warns them that they will face persecution, just as He did, but encourages them not to fear. Jesus emphasizes that nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and that even the smallest details of their lives are known to God. He urges them to acknowledge Him publicly, promising that He will acknowledge them before the Father. This teaching underscores the importance of trust in God's providence and the courage to live according to one's faith, even in the face of adversity.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our trust in God's plan. Like Joseph, we are called to forgive and trust that God can transform evil into good. Like the disciples, we are challenged to have the courage to stand firm in our faith, knowing that God cares for us deeply. In our daily lives, we face many challenges, but these readings remind us to approach them with faith, trusting in God's providence and living with the courage to acknowledge Him in all we do. Let us embrace this trust and courage, knowing that God is always with us, guiding us through life's trials.