IN GOD’S HANDS

July 10, Saturday

 

FOURTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

       “Do not be afraid,” said Joseph to his brothers. He forgave them, realizing that his sufferings caused by them were the seed of the future of God’s people.

       “Do not be afraid.” says Jesus to his disciples three times. Even when persecuted and apparently failing in their mission, like Jesus, their master, they are in God’s hands. God takes care of his own. God’s kingdom cannot be built up without crosses and sacrifices, not without being contested by a world that wants to create its own future.

First Reading: Genesis 49:29-32; 50:15-26a

Then he instructed them: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave which is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave in the field of Machpelah facing Mamre in the land of Canaan, the field Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite for a burial plot. Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried there; Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried there; I also buried Leah there. The field and the cave were bought from the Hittites.”

All his brothers who had come with him to bury his father returned with him. After the funeral, Joseph’s brothers talked among themselves: “What if Joseph is carrying a grudge and decides to pay us back for all the wrong we did him?”

So they sent Joseph a message, “Before his death, your father gave this command: Tell Joseph, ‘Forgive your brothers’ sin—all that wrongdoing. They did treat you very badly.’ Will you do it? Will you forgive the sins of the servants of your father’s God?”

When Joseph received their message, he wept.

Then the brothers went in person to him, threw themselves on the ground before him and said, “We’ll be your slaves.”

Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid. Do I act for God? Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people. Easy now, you have nothing to fear; I’ll take care of you and your children.” He reassured them, speaking with them heart-to-heart.

Joseph continued to live in Egypt with his father’s family. Joseph lived 110 years. He lived to see Ephraim’s sons into the third generation. The sons of Makir, Manasseh’s son, were also recognized as Joseph’s.

At the end, Joseph said to his brothers, “I am ready to die. God will most certainly pay you a visit and take you out of this land and back to the land he so solemnly promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Then Joseph made the sons of Israel promise under oath, “When God makes his visitation, make sure you take my bones with you as you leave here.”

Joseph died at the age of 110 years.

 

Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33

“A student doesn’t get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesn’t make more money than his boss. Be content—pleased, even—when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, ‘Dung face,’ what can the workers expect?

“Don’t be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don’t hesitate to go public now.

“Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.

“What’s the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries.

“Stand up for me against world opinion and I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven. If you turn tail and run, do you think I’ll cover for you?

Prayer

Dependable God,
you are present with us in all things,
even in our miseries,
and you take care of your own.
Deepen our trust in you
and make us afraid of only one thing:
to become instruments of evil.
Make us instead messengers of the good news
that evil can be overcome
and that your goodness and justice will prevail.
Give us this faith and trust
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Reflection:

FEAR Vs FAITH
Fear has some positive vital function: it signals the dangers, and prevents us from taking risky, foolish actions. What keeps us safe from possible dangers and unpleasant situations in life is – our “Fear.” But in the Gospel, Jesus teaches us on the contrary – He repeats: “Do not be afraid.” For a believer of Christ, fear is not an option.

Fear hinders the courageous actions and resolute choices. For those who have made the decision to follow Jesus, fear is the worst enemy. It could be the fear of punishment, fear of failures in life, fear of losing friendships, of being deprived of one’s properties, fear of death or of being killed and the list goes on for ever. It is normal to be afraid. But whoever is afraid is no longer free and if dominated and guided by fear, we end up paralyzed.

Matthew, as he writes the Gospel is addressing his Community in Antioch, where many of the faithful are afraid, because of the violence unleashed by the enemies of Christ. They fear that the Mission of Christ might fail. That’s why he gives the reassurance: “What I tell you in darkness, tell it in broad daylight; and what you hear in private, proclaim from the housetops” (vv. 26-27).

Matthew is announcing the reassurance of the Lord that despite the trials and hardships, the gospel will spread and transform the world. They probably will not see the seeds of light and goodness, that they have sown with toil and pain, germinate. However, a believer of Christ must cultivate the joyful certainty that the harvest will grow and will be plentiful. Their work will not be in vain; no enemy force will be able to prevent the realization of God’s plan.

The second reason for fear is the fear of being mistreated or even put to death (v. 28). What harm can the enemies of the gospel do? To offend, accuse unjustly, beat, confiscate property, take away life! But, physical death would not be the ultimate evil. No violence is capable of depriving the disciple of the only lasting treasure: the life he has received from God and that no one can take away.

The third reason why persecution frightens us is that oftentimes it does affect not only us, but also those around us. Jesus responds by pointing out the providence of the heavenly Father. No one is left outside of the love and kindness of God. We will always be rescued in a prodigious way not because of any of our merits, but because our Heavenly Father cannot but care for his children.

Video available onn Youtube: FEAR Vs FAITH