Wednesday, July 08, 2015
WEDNESDAY, 14th Week in Ordinary Time
July 8, 2015 WEDNESDAY, 14th Week in Ordinary Time
Green
Gn 41:55 – 57; 42: 5 – 7a, 17 – 24a / Mt 10: 1 – 7
Reading: Gn 41: 55 – 57; 42: 5 – 7a, 17 – 24a
When the land of Egypt began to suffer from the famine, the people came to Pharaoh for bread. But Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do as he tells you." When the famine had spread throughout the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians for the famine was indeed severe over the land. As the famine had worsened throughout the whole world, people came from other countries to buy grain from Joseph.
So the sons of Israel were among those going to buy grain, for there was famine in Canaan. It was Joseph, as governor of the land, who sold the grain to all the people. When his brothers arrived they bowed before him, with their faces to the ground. Joseph recognized his brothers but did not make himself known.
And so he put them all in prison for three days.
On the third day Joseph said to them, "I will help you to save yourselves, for I am a man who fears God. If you are sincere, let one of your brothers remain prisoner in the house of the guard where you now are, and the rest of you take the grain to save your families from famine. Then you will bring back your youngest brother; so the truth of what you say will be proved and your lives spared." They did as they were ordered and said among themselves, "Alas! We are guilty because of the way we treated our brother when he pleaded with us for mercy, but we didn't listen. That is why this trouble has come upon us."
Reuben answered them, "Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy. But you did not listen and now we are brought to account for his blood." Now they did not know that Joseph understood them as there was an interpreter between them. As for Joseph, he withdrew and wept.
Gospel: Mt 10: 1 - 7
Then he called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority over the unclean spirits to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon, the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray him.
Jesus sent these twelve on mission with the instruction: "Do not visit pagan territory and do not enter a Samaritan town. Go instead to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. Go and proclaim this message: The Kingdom of God is near."
Reflection:
In today's Gospel reading we see Jesus missioning the twelve apostles and empowering them to subdue evil spirits and to heal physical sickness and diseases. The names of the chosen Twelve are given, starting with Simon Peter.
We see that Jesus' choice and selection of the Twelve are so different from our common and established criteria for choosing leaders and followers as we have today. We had seen how Jesus called his close followers: fishermen, a tax collector, common folk. The gospels do not tell us what formal schooling they had nor did Jesus ask about their formal schooling. He called them and they generously answered his call.
Their schooling was being with Jesus, listening and hearing him, seeing him and watching him work miracles and cures, teach and talk with the people.
Their mission: to proclaim that "the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." At the end of his earthly life, at his return to his Father in heaven, Jesus missioned his disciples to "go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation," to "go and make disciples from all nations and to baptize them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teach them to fulfill all that I have commanded."
Pope Francis has declared 2014 as the Year of the Laity. The same mandate given to the Twelve as given in today's Gospel reading and at his ascension to heaven is also given to all his followers, to each and every one of us: "to proclaim the Good News to all creation."
Do we see and understand this mission given to each one of us? How have we lived out the Gospel message? How have we shared with others our understanding and living out of the Good News?
WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:
BIRTHDAY
YIU-WAH
OTHER INTENTIONS:
For the thanksgiving & special intentions of Beny Chua
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 5:18 AM 
