I AM YOUR BROTHER…

Genesis 44:18-21,23-29

18 Then Judah went up to him and said, “O my lord, let your servant, I pray you, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant; for you are like Pharaoh himself.
19 My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’
20 And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children; and his father loves him.’
21 Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes upon him.’

23 Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’ 24 When we went back to your servant my father we told him the words of my lord. 25 And when our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food,’ 26 we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother goes with us, then we will go down; for we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons; 28 one left me, and I said, Surely he has been torn to pieces; and I have never seen him since. 29 If you take this one also from me, and harm befalls him, you will bring down my gray hairs in sorrow to Sheol.’

Genesis 45:1-5

1 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him; and he cried, “Make every one go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. 4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, I pray you.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.5 And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.

Matthew 10:7-15

7 And preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.
9 Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts,10 no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food.11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart.12 As you enter the house, salute it.13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.14 And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.15 Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.  

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING: Judah present himself to Joseph as the spokesperson to appraise him of Jacobs deep sorrow that he may never see his youngest son again. Joseph is brought to tears when he hears of his father’s longing and love of him. Moreover he is elated to hear that his father is still alive to the extent that Joseph finally reveal to his brothers that he is their brother whom they wanted to cast in the pit to die, but instead they sold him into slavery!
Joseph forgave his brothers and makes it known that God used him as a suffering servant to preserve life. We notice the typological correlation of Joseph’s life with the Messiah who was revealed in Christs revelation, suffering, death and ressurection to bring life to us his son’s and daughters.

THE GOSPEL READING records the mission of the twelve Apostles who are send out to heal, cleanse, restore lives  and dispell the evil afflictions of man. The Apostles are called to live priestly lives of purity, simplicity and poverty being in service of God’s people. 

Today’s reading points to the continuity of the levitical priesthood whose vocation was ordered to live and apply the holy covenants or sacraments to whomsoever desire peace and restoration in and through Christ our Brother. We who find ourselves in the pit of darkness, depression, abandonment and separation from loved ones are hastened to seek Christ in His sacraments so that our family friendships may be restored in Christ. 

LET US PRAY: Psalms 105:16-21

16 When he summoned a famine on the land, and broke every staff of bread,
17 he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 His feet were hurt with fetters, his neck was put in a collar of iron; 19 until what he had said came to pass the word of the LORD tested him. 20 The king sent and released him, the ruler of the peoples set him free; 21 he made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his possessions,

Author. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days

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