Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection July 09, 2025
Wednesday – 14th Week in Ordinary Time
09th July 2025 (Wednesday)
Psalter: Week 2
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Genesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a
In those days: When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.” So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth. Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan. Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. And he put them all together in custody for three days. On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” And Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. Then he turned away from them and wept.
Psalm 33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19 R. (22)
R/. May your merciful love be upon us as we hope in you, O Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Matthew 10:1-7
At that time: Jesus called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Daily Gospel Reflection
Wednesday – 14th Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: In a power-crazy and power-abusing world, Jesus shows us the real power. Real power is a means and tool for doing good, for establishing the true kingdom of God
1. In the gospel today from Matthew 10. 1-7, Jesus gives authority to his Twelve. He empowers them with his power and authorises them to carry on his mission. But this power and authority is not to subjugate and manipulate others. It is not for seeking and promoting self-interests.
2. The real power and authority is divinely sanctioned. It comes from God. It is therefore something divine and sacred. It is also meant to be kingdom-oriented and other-oriented. That is why Jesus orders his disciples to preach that “The kingdom of God is at hand”. That is why, as he endows them with authority, the purpose is mentioned. It is to “cast out the unclean spirits, and to heal every disease and every infirmity”.
3. The Kingdom of God is not so much a place up in the heavens, out there after death. It is also not merely a spiritual domain, with lots of spirituality and religious activities. It is where and when God reigns. It is the situation and experience of God being near to us, taking control of our lives. It is where the godly values of love, justice and peace prevail.
4. Therefore, in this context, any power and authority that does not promote God’s reign, that is not benevolent and beneficial to others, is not a true authority. Any authority that reels on the heels of human manipulation is a degenerated one. Any authority that does not preserve its sanctity but is so much tainted by worldliness is already a corroded one. Further, any authority that is ego-centred, ego-projecting and ego-promoting is a mean authority.
5. It is here that Joseph, the son of Israel, comes as an example of magnanimous benevolence. Even though his brothers jealously sold him into slavery, God raised him to be the governor of Egypt. He allows God’s kingdom to reign in the kingdom of Egypt. He forgives the sins of his brothers and saves them in times of famine
6. Further, the mission entrusted to the disciples is primarily directed to “the lost sheep”. That is, first of all, it is a “mission within”, a mission to repair, and rejuvenate ourselves, our own lives, our hearts, our communities and families, our relatives, friends and surroundings. At times, we may be more worried about changing the whole world but neglect our own “small worlds” that we live and interact with day in and day out.
My Practice: The fact that the names of the twelve apostles are mentioned indicates that our vocation and mission is very personal and personally significant. It is not only a collective, community mission of the church but also of each disciple
