Liturgical Colour : Green
Psalm 104 : 16-17, 18-19, 20-21
Then YHVH sent a famine and ruined the crop that sustained the land; He sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
His feet in shackles, his neck in irons; till what he foretold came to pass, and YHVH’s word proved him true.
The king sent for him; set him free; the ruler of the peoples released him. He put him in charge of his household and made him ruler of all his possessions.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Genesis 44 : 18-21, 23b-29 and Genesis 45 : 1-5
Judah then went forward and said, “My lord, allow your servant to speak. Do not be angry with your servant, although you are equal to Pharaoh himself. The last time you questioned your servants saying : ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ We said to my lord : ‘We have an aged father who had a child in his old age. His brother is dead and he is the only one left of his mother’s children. And his father loves him.'”
“Then you said to us : ‘Bring him down so that I can see him for myself, if your youngest brother did not come with you, you would not be admitted to my presence.’ All this we said to our father on returning there. So when he told us to come back and buy a little food, we said : ‘We cannot go down again unless our youngest brother is with us. We shall not be admitted to the lord’s presence unless our brother is with us.'”
“Then my father said : ‘You know that my wife had two children. One went away from me and has surely been torn to pieces since I have not seen him anymore. If you take this one from me and something happens to him you will bring my gray hair in sorrow to the grave.'”
Now Joseph could no longer control his feelings in the presence of all those standing by and he called out, “Leave my presence, everyone!” And only his brothers were with him when Joseph made himself known to them. He wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard and the news spread through Pharaoh’s house.
Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” And his brothers could not answer because they were terrified at seeing him. Joseph said, “Come closer,” and they drew nearer. “I am Joseph your brother, yes, it is me, the one you sold to the Egyptians. Now do not grieve or reproach yourselves for selling me, because God has sent me before you to save your lives.”
Liturgical Colour : Green
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scripture, we heard the reminder for us to reach out to our fellow brothers and sisters, that is we all need to share the love of God to those whom we encounter in life, and commit ourselves to follow the Lord with faith, with dedication and the desire to spread His message and truth, to all the people of all the nations, in the footsteps of the Apostles.
The Lord showed His love to His people when He sent Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob, or Israel, into Egypt ahead of his brothers and family. This happened as Joseph was despised earlier on in his youth by his elder brothers, as he was one of their father’s favourite, being born of his beloved wife, Rachel, in his old age, besides Benjamin, the youngest son. As Jacob showered Joseph with lots of affection, this made many among the older brothers jealous and angry. His dream in which he saw his elder brothers and his own father bowing before him made them even angrier.
This resulted in them plotting for Joseph’s death, which was also thwarted by the efforts of Ruben, his elder brother, who tried to convince them otherwise, and by the suggestions that they sold him to a Midianite slaver instead of killing him. And that was how Joseph ended up in Egypt, and became a slave in the household of Potiphar, one of the Egyptian Pharaoh’s officials. When he was falsely accused of trying to sleep with Potiphar’s wife, he was arrested and put in prison.
But by God’s grace, Joseph became a very successful man in Egypt, as he was rescued by the Lord, and his ability to interpret dreams came to the attention of the Pharaoh, who after hearing the interpretation of his dreadful dream, made him no less than the Regent of the entire kingdom, as the second most powerful man in the whole realm just after the Pharaoh himself. And it was before this Regent of Egypt, whom Joseph’s brothers came to as described in our first reading today.
The whole land, the whole earth suffered from a great famine just as predicted by the dreams of the Pharaoh, after years of great bounty. But Joseph was there in Egypt to advise the Pharaoh by God’s guidance, to save up plenty of food during the years of prosperity, and that was how God blessed His people and saved them even many years beforehand, as Joseph would later on say upon revealing himself eventually to his astounded brothers.
This is what we have heard of God’s love for us, how even when we mankind plotted bad things against others, He changed what was bad and terrible into something that is good instead. He still patiently leads us and guides us through the right path, despite our disobedience and wickedness, all these while. And He sent His disciples to go before Him, as we heard in our Gospel passage today, to bring forth the message of His truth and love to everyone.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to these readings from the Scripture, we are reminded that we should be more obedient and faithful to the Lord, learning to entrust ourselves to Him and walk faithfully in His path. We should not allow worldly temptations and desires to be hurdles and obstacles that distract us and prevent us from reaching this goal of finding the Lord and reaching His salvation and grace. God wants us all to listen to Him and to follow Him with all of our heart and might.
Let us all therefore follow in the footsteps of the Apostles and all those whom God had sent into this world to bring more and more of His beloved people back to Him. We are the successors of the works of the Apostles, and there are many things that we can do in reaching out in our daily living, to our fellow brothers and sisters, that through us many more people may come to the Lord and be saved, together with us. May God bless us always, now and forevermore. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Matthew 10 : 1-7
At that time, Jesus called His Twelve disciples to Him, and gave them authority over 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 Heaven is near.”
Liturgical Colour : Green
Psalm 32 : 2-3, 10-11, 18-19
Give thanks to YHVH on the harp and lyre, making melody and chanting praises. Amid loud shouts of joy, sing to Him a new song and play the ten-stringed harp.
YHVH frustrates the plans of the nations and brings to nothing the peoples’ designs. But His plan stands forever, and His heart’s design, through all generations.
But YHVH’s eyes are upon those who fear Him, upon those who trust in His loving kindness; to deliver them from death and preserve them from famine.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Genesis 41 : 55-57 and Genesis 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 recognised his brothers but did not make himself known and so he put them in prison for three days. On the third day Joseph said to them, “I will help you 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 did not listen. That is why this trouble has come upon us.” Reuben answered them, “Did 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.
Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day as we listened to the words of the Scriptures we are presented with the story of Jacob who encountered the Lord and struggled with Him, and survived, as he made his way back to the land of Canaan to be reunited with his family. God reassured Jacob that he would be always blessed and protected by Him, and God would never abandon him and his descendants.
We heard then in our Gospel passage today, of the moment when the Lord healed His people, healing the blind and the sick, and casting out demons from those who had been possessed. And yet, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law among the crowd were quick to criticise Him and even accused Him of colluding and working together with the prince of demons in order to deceive the people.
This is the same struggle that Jacob had as he was still doubting the Lord when he was on his way back to Canaan. As he returned to the land of Canaan, he was still worried and fearful that his elder brother Esau still held great grudge and anger against him and wanted him and his family dead. Yet, that was not to be the case. Nonetheless, God came to Jacob and made him to see reason, and turn away from his doubts and fears.
The Lord therefore did the same as He came among His people, bearing His truth and salvation, healing His people from their sickness and troubles. And yet, some among them still refused to believe in Him and hardened their hearts and minds, as the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law had done. Nonetheless, God never ceased in trying to reach out to even the most stubborn among His people.
And that was when He also said to His disciples, that while the harvest was plentiful, but the labourers were few. He asked them all to pray and ask the Lord, the Master of the harvest, to send labourers to work and gather the harvest that has been waiting to be harvested. And this means that, all of us as Christians, we have been given this very task to be the labourers of the vineyard and the harvest of the Lord.
He has entrusted to us the mission to evangelise the whole world, to make disciples of all the peoples of all the nations of the world, to be the witnesses of His Resurrection, the bearers of His light, hope and truth to all and every peoples. But how are we going to do this, if we ourselves have not been truly faithful to Him yet, brothers and sisters in Christ? Many of us are still stubborn much like the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law in refusing to commit ourselves to the Lord and believe in His truth.
That is why today all of us should be inspired by the examples set by St. Maria Goretti, the famous saint and martyr of the faith, a young girl who was martyred while she was but a young teenager, in defence of her faith and chastity. The story of St. Maria Goretti and her martyrdom was well known, how she was about to be raped by Alessandro, a neighbour’s boy, who wanted to do indecent things with her.
St. Maria Goretti refused his advances, and persisted in maintaining her purity and virginity before God, which caused the older boy to be angered and stabbed the young girl many times, and leaving her for death. Yet, this courageous and brave young girl and servant of God forgave her assailant even to her last breath and prayed for his conversion. Later on, she was to appear to her assailant, and according to accounts, led him down the path of repentance, as he turned a new leaf of life.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, are we also able to follow in the path set by St. Maria Goretti and many other of our holy predecessors? God has called us all to be holy and to be dedicated to Him, doing His works and be His faithful labourers in all things. Let us all strive to do our very best in glorifying God, in every little things we do, and commit ourselves, each and every moments of our lives, to be the bearers of God’s truth and love. May God bless us all, now and always. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)
Matthew 9 : 32-38
At that time, as the two blind men were going away, some people brought to Jesus a man who was dumb, because he was possessed by a demon. When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
But the Pharisees said, “He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.”
Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom; and He cured every sickness and disease. When He saw the crowds, He was moved with pity; for they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are only few. Ask the Master of the harvest to send workers to gather His harvest.”
Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)
Psalm 16 : 1, 2-3, 6-7, 8 and 15
Hear a just cause, o YHVH, listen to my complaint. Give heed to my prayer, for there is no deceit on my lips.
Let my defence come forth from You; Your eyes see what is right. You have probed my heart, searched me at night, tested me by fire, and You have seen no wickedness in me.
I call on You, You will answer me, o God; incline Your ear and hear my word. For You do wonders for Your faithful, You save those fleeing from the enemy as they seek refuge at Your right hand.
Keep me as the apple of Your eye; under the shadow of Your wings hide me. As for me, righteous in Your sight, I shall see Your face and, awakening, gaze my fill on Your likeness.
Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)
Genesis 32 : 23-33
Jacob took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons, and sent them across the stream and likewise everything he had. And Jacob was left alone. Then a Man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the Man saw that He could not get the better of Jacob, He struck him in the socket of his hip and dislocated it as He wrestled with him.
The Man said, “Let Me go, for day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let You go until you have given me Your blessing.” The Man then said, “What is your name?” “Jacob” was the reply. He answered, “You will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have been strong-with-God as you have been with men and have prevailed.”
Then Jacob asked Him, “What is Your Name?” He answered, “Why do you ask My Name?” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Penuel, saying, “I have seen God face to face and survived.” The sun rose as he passed through Penuel, limping because of his hip. That is why to this day the Israelites do not eat the sciatic nerve which is in the hip socket because the sciatic nerve in Jacob’s hip had been touched.
petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang 