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Contemplating today's Gospel

Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)

Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading (Gen 41:55-57;42:5-7.17-24a): When hunger came to be felt throughout the land of Egypt and the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, Pharaoh directed all the Egyptians to go to Joseph and do whatever he told them. When the famine had spread throughout the land, Joseph opened all the cities that had grain and rationed it to the Egyptians, since the famine had gripped the land of Egypt. In fact, all the world came to Joseph to obtain rations of grain, for famine had gripped the whole world.

The sons of Israel were among those who came to procure rations. It was Joseph, as governor of the country, who dispensed the rations to all the people. When Joseph's brothers came and knelt down before him with their faces to the ground, he recognized them as soon as he saw them. But Joseph concealed his own identity from them and spoke sternly to them. With that, he locked them up in the guardhouse for three days.

On the third day Joseph said to his brothers: «Do this, and you shall live; for I am a God-fearing man. If you have been honest, only one of your brothers need be confined in this prison, while the rest of you may go and take home provisions for your starving families. But you must come back to me with your youngest brother. Your words will thus be verified, and you will not die». To this they agreed. To one another, however, they said: «Alas, we are being punished because of our brother. We saw the anguish of his heart when he pleaded with us, yet we paid no heed; that is why this anguish has now come upon us». Reuben broke in, «Did I not tell you not to do wrong to the boy? But you would not listen! Now comes the reckoning for his blood». The brothers did not know, of course, that Joseph understood what they said, since he spoke with them through an interpreter. But turning away from them, he wept.
Responsorial Psalm: 32
R/. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Give thanks to the Lord on the harp; with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises. Sing to him a new song; pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.

The Lord brings to nought the plans of nations; he foils the designs of peoples. But the plan of the Lord stands forever; the design of his heart, through all generations.

But see, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine.
Versicle before the Gospel (Mk 1:15): Alleluia. The Kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe in the Gospel. Alleluia.
Gospel text (Mt 10:1-7): Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: 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 Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

Fr. Fernando PERALES i Madueño (Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, the Gospel shows us Jesus sending his disciples on a mission: "Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus" (Mt 10:5). The twelve disciples form the "Apostolic College," that is, the "missionary" College; the Church, in her earthly pilgrimage, is a missionary community, for it has its origin in the fulfillment of the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit according to the designs of God the Father. Just as Peter and the other Apostles constitute a single Apostolic College by the Lord's institution, so the Roman Pontiff, successor of Peter, and the Bishops, successors of the Apostles, form a whole upon whom falls the duty of proclaiming the Gospel throughout the earth.

Among the disciples sent on mission, we find those to whom Christ has conferred a prominent place and greater responsibility, like Peter. Then there are others, such as Thaddaeus, about whom we know almost nothing. However, the Gospels communicate the Good News to us; they are not written to satisfy curiosity. We, for our part, must pray for all bishops, both famous and not so famous, and live in communion with them: "See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles" (Saint Ignatius of Antioch). Jesus did not seek educated people, but simply those who were willing, capable of following him to the end. This teaches me that I, as a Christian, must also feel responsible for a part of Jesus' work of salvation. Do I ward off evil? Do I help my brothers and sisters?

Since the work is in its beginning stages, Jesus is quick to give a limiting order: "Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’" (Mt 10:5-6). Today we must do what we can, with the certainty that God will call all pagans and Samaritans in another phase of missionary work.

Thoughts on Today's Gospel

  • “Let your Baptism endure as your arms; your faith as your helmet; your love as your spear; your patience as a complete panoply.” (Saint Ignatius of Antiochia)

  • “We also are sent as messengers and witnesses of peace. The world has much need of us as messengers of peace!” (Francis)

  • “Christ's disciples are to conform themselves to him until he is formed in them (...). We have been made like to him, died with him and risen with him.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Nº 562)