Daily Readings - Sat Jul 12 2025
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 profound lessons about trust, forgiveness, and the enduring presence of God in our lives. The first reading from Genesis recounts the final moments of Jacob’s life, as he entrusts his sons with his final wishes and expresses faith in God’s promise to bring his people back to the land of Canaan. Joseph, in turn, exemplifies forgiveness and trust in God’s providence when he reassures his brothers, “Do not be afraid… God turned into good what you meant for evil.” This narrative reminds us that even in the face of suffering and betrayal, God’s plan prevails, and forgiveness is a powerful expression of faith.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to his disciples about the challenges of following him. He warns them that they will face persecution and misunderstanding, just as he did, but he encourages them not to fear. Jesus reminds them that nothing is hidden forever, and that their worth is far greater than the sparrows that God carefully watches over. He calls them to acknowledge him boldly before others, trusting that God will always be with them. This teaching invites us to reflect on our own courage and fidelity in living out our faith, even when it is difficult.
Both readings invite us to trust in God’s providence and to live with faith and courage. Jacob trusted that God would fulfill his promises, even when the future seemed uncertain. Joseph forgave his brothers, seeing that God had turned their evil intentions into good. Jesus calls us to do the same: to trust in God’s care, to forgive those who wrong us, and to live without fear, knowing that we are loved and valued beyond measure. May we, like these biblical figures, place our hope in God, who weaves all things into his plan for our good and the good of the world.