Wednesday 10th July,
2019. Genesis 41:55-57.42:5-7.17-24,
Psalm 33 and Matthew 10:1-7
_*“’In truth we
are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul,
when he besought us and we would not listen; therefore is this distress come
upon us.’ And Reuben answered them, ‘Did I not tell you not to sin against the
lad? But you would not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood’.” (Genesis 42:21-22)*_
It
was Sir Isaac Newton that said: “To every action, there is an equal and
opposite reaction.” In other words, it is how you lay your bed that you lie on
it. When Joseph’s brothers were being wicked to him, they felt they could cut
short his dreams but unknown to them, they were indirectly making those dreams
a reality.
It
was fun for Joseph’s brothers when they sat down to eat the food Joseph brought
for them while they watched him being led into slavery in tears. It is also fun
for us when we engage in sinful acts sometimes but there surely comes a day of
reckoning. Dear friends, wickedness does not pay.
Joseph
was just a child when he suffered betrayal from his brothers. The worst acts of
man’s inhumanity to man today are evils meted out against children. Think of
the millions of children whose lives are destroyed through abortion, child
abuse, sexual assault, neglect, forced labour and even prostitution.
Dear
friends, if there is any lesson we must take home today, it is: “Be good to
children.” Help these little ones, help them achieve their dreams, help them
not because of who they are not but for the sake of who they can become
tomorrow.
The
same Joseph that was considered unnecessary by his brothers is the same Joseph
that was Governor of the whole of Egypt, the same Joseph of which Pharaoh said:
“Go to Joseph, do whatever he tells you.” Let us learn to treat our assistants,
our subordinates, our employees with love and respect. We never know what God
has planned for their future.
Here
comes the shocking truth: No matter how wicked we are towards the young, we can
never thwart the plan of God for their lives. That child you rejected from
pregnancy, that child you refused to feed when you could, that child you
molested, assaulted and refused to educate, that child you used as a work
machine, subjected to all kinds of inhumane treatment eventually becomes your
life-saver tomorrow. It is never too late today to make amends, it is never too
late to stop treating children badly.
Ruben
said to his brothers: “Did I not tell you not to sin against the lad?” Of
course, he told them but why did he refuse to act when they refused to listen to
his warning? Why did he refuse to report the matter to their father when they
got home that day? Today he shares in the punishment. It is not enough that we
speak out when we see evil, we must do something no matter how little to stop
it from happening.
In
the Gospel passage, Jesus empowers his disciples by giving authority over
unclean spirits and sicknesses. Matthew mentions the names of the twelve, he
also adds that among them was Judas Iscariot who eventually betrayed Jesus just
as Joseph’s brothers betrayed him by selling him off to slavery. Jesus knew
what Judas Iscariot was capable of yet that did not stop him from giving him
authority. It is not what we have that defines us, it is who we are. By every
standard, Judas Iscariot was an Apostle but in truth, he was a betrayer.
Thought
for today: “What I am doing with all that God has blessed me with?”
Let
us pray: Lord Jesus, give me wisdom to always weigh the consequences of my
thoughts, words and deeds. Amen
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the 14th week
in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Genesis 41:55-57.42:5-7.17-24, Psalm 33 and Matthew
10:1-7).
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