Daily Readings - Wed Jul 09 2025
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, mercy, and God's providence. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Joseph and his brothers during the time of famine. Joseph, now a powerful leader in Egypt, confronts his brothers who have come seeking food. Though he tests them and speaks harshly, his ultimate act of weeping and offering them grain reveals a deeper truth: God works through human frailty and sin to bring about redemption. Joseph’s story reminds us that even in the midst of suffering and uncertainty, God’s plan unfolds in ways we cannot fully understand.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus and the mission of the Twelve Apostles. Jesus sends his disciples out into the world with authority to heal and preach, instructing them to go first to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel." This mission is rooted in trust—trust in God’s providence and trust in the power of the message they carry. Like Joseph, the disciples are called to step into the unknown, relying not on their own strength but on God’s grace. This reading challenges us to consider how we, too, are called to be instruments of God’s mercy and healing in the world.
Both readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to God’s call in our own lives. Like Joseph’s brothers, we may find ourselves in situations where we must confront our past sins or trust in God’s providence despite uncertainty. Like the apostles, we are called to step out in faith, even when the path ahead seems unclear. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God’s plan, show mercy to others, and be open to the ways God is calling you to serve. In doing so, we become part of the larger story of redemption that God is weaving through history.