＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Genesis 41:55-57, 2:5-7a, 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 knownand, instead, said harshly to them, “Where do you come from?” And they answered, “We come from the land of Canaan to buy grain for food.”  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. When he came back, he spoke to them and took Simeon and had him bound and put in prison while they looked on.

 

Ps 33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊  

Matthew 10:1-7

 Jesus 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 heaven is near.

 

Gospel Reflection：

The early Ministry of Jesus and his disciples is restricted only to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. It does not yet include the whole world. It does not even include the Samaritan towns. Let us remember that the kingdom of David was split in two after Solomon took over.

In the south is the kingdom of Judah and Benjamin whose capital is Jerusalem. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was composed of ten tribes and had their Capital later on in Samaria. These ten tribes are not included in Jesus' ministry. This tells us several things.

First God's love for Israel, now expressed to the House of David, is everlasting. God does not abandon His own. Secondly, employs anyone and everyone that he wants. There is no such thing as a qualification since it is God who qualifies those whom he calls. And lastly, the love of God will overflow and spread to everyone in the end with the Great Commission of Jesus to his disciples to “ go out and preach the gospel to all nations…”