14TH THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 10:7-15) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

FIRST READING - 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5

A reading from the Book of Genesis

Judah approached Joseph and said: "I beg you, my lord,

let your servant speak earnestly to my lord,

and do not become angry with your servant,

for you are the equal of Pharaoh.

My lord asked your servants, 'Have you a father, or another brother?'

So we said to my lord, 'We have an aged father,

and a young brother, the child of his old age.

This one's full brother is dead,

and since he is the only one by that mother who is left,

his father dotes on him.'

Then you told your servants,

'Bring him down to me that my eyes may look on him.

Unless your youngest brother comes back with you,

you shall not come into my presence again.'

When we returned to your servant our father,

we reported to him the words of my lord.

"Later, our father told us to come back and buy some food for the family.

So we reminded him, 'We cannot go down there;

only if our youngest brother is with us can we go,

for we may not see the man if our youngest brother is not with us.'

Then your servant our father said to us,

'As you know, my wife bore me two sons.

One of them, however, disappeared, and I had to conclude

that he must have been torn to pieces by wild beasts;

I have not seen him since.

If you now take this one away from me, too,

and some disaster befalls him,

you will send my white head down to the nether world in grief.'"

Joseph could no longer control himself

in the presence of all his attendants,

so he cried out, "Have everyone withdraw from me!"

Thus no one else was about when he made himself known to his brothers.

But his sobs were so loud that the Egyptians heard him,

and so the news reached Pharaoh's palace.

"I am Joseph," he said to his brothers.

"Is my father still in good health?"

But his brothers could give him no answer,

so dumbfounded were they at him.

"Come closer to me," he told his brothers.

When they had done so, he said:

"I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt.

But now do not be distressed,

and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here.

It was really for the sake of saving lives

that God sent me here ahead of you."

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 10:7-15

From the Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his Apostles:

"As you go, make this proclamation:

'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

Cure the sick, raise the dead,

cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.

Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.

Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;

no sack for the journey, or a second tunic,

or sandals, or walking stick.

The laborer deserves his keep.

Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it,

and stay there until you leave.

As you enter a house, wish it peace.

If the house is worthy,

let your peace come upon it;

if not, let your peace return to you.

Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—

go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.

Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable

for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment

than for that town."

14TH THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 10:7-15)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God recounts how God gave power to the apostles, as well as to all those whom He chose and sent out to preach the Gospel, to heal all diseases, and to cast out demons from everyone.

"Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."

God calls the disciples to go out and continue His mission of saving souls. He wants them to look to the example of the self-sacrificing love of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus died to redeem humanity, to save people from death, and to give them eternal life. Therefore, God requires His apostles to embody that same self-sacrificing love—an unconditional offering of themselves for the sake of others.

Today, God the Father invites the disciples, the prophets, and all those who wish to follow the path of Jesus Christ to imitate His example: to share with others everything we have—gifts freely given by God—with unconditional love and without calculation. He calls us to entrust everything to Him, to be empty-hearted so that His grace may flow into us, giving everyone the strength to serve others with all their souls and all their minds. This is what God the Father desires from His disciples.

Especially in this new era, the prophets—the Army of Light of God the Father—must absolutely follow the example of Jesus Christ by reaching out to all people: the poor, the suffering, the sick, and the sinners, for they are the ones in need of God's healing. As for those who do not seek God or who reject His disciples, everyone must remain humble, self-effacing, and patient. They must pray and make sacrifices, asking God to sanctify these souls so that they may open their hearts to welcome their brothers and sisters, who are the image of God, into their lives.

Today's Word of God also teaches the disciples that when they go out to preach—when they encounter difficulties, obstacles, and opposition—they should shake the dust off their feet. Shaking the dust off their feet means returning to others what is theirs—insults, rejection—and offering it to God for His judgment on the last day. For the Lord said: "Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town."

In the plan of this new era, God the Father earnestly invites the disciples not to be discouraged by difficulties or opposition, but to trust in Him and to pray constantly for those who oppose them.

As for the disciples, they must be determined to turn away from sin and remain faithful to God the Father until their last breath. Moreover, they must use wise, gentle, and humble words—speaking in love, with the intention of building up and uniting others.

The disciples are only imperfect people of God, yet they are loved by Him and sent to spread His love and mercy. Whatever He says, whatever He tells you, do it. So just listen to Him and obey Him. Their main purpose is to save souls by helping people abandon the path of sin and return to God the Father.

In both the Church and society, people are always invited to live peacefully and purely—free from greed, gambling, drinking, and all social evils—in order to build a joyful, peaceful, and happy community. When God sends His disciples to work alongside us in society, it is to help build peace in the midst of wars and conflicts. They do nothing but call people to abandon sin: to turn away from fornication, theft, addiction, selfishness—and instead embrace sacrifice and self-discipline. They call people to work together to build a healthy, peaceful, prosperous, and happy society; one grounded in brotherhood and mutual sharing. So why were they persecuted? Could it be that the forces of Satan are attacking the disciples?

God is love—a love that gives itself completely. There is no love greater than the love of God! He desires His disciples to possess this same kind of love: a love that forgives and embraces even those who oppose and hate them.

This is the highest form of love, one that the disciples can experience only through God. They must remain in God's love so that His love may ignite a fire of zeal within them—empowering them to go out and continue the mission of Jesus Christ: to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, to call everyone to repentance, to turn away from sin and return to God the Father. They are sent to heal the sick of all illnesses and disabilities, and to cast out demons—with the power of Love that comes from God the Father.

In this way, the human soul is set free from the control and bondage of Satan, and is able to return freely to God the Father, the Merciful One.

Thanks be to God. Amen