Category: Bible Study

“Come closer to me.” –Genesis 45:4 Mass Readings: July 13 First: Genesis 44:18-21,23-29; 45:1-5; Resp: Psalm 105:16-21; Gospel: Matthew 10:7-15 Listen to the Mass Readings The conversation between the powerful Joseph, second-in-command in all Egypt, and his estranged brothers was not going well. Joseph broke through the communication gap by setting aside his glory (cf Phil 2:7), emptying himself of his power (see Phil 2:8), and telling his brothers, “Come closer to me” (Gn 45:4). In the Song of Songs, God likewise calls to the beloved, hidden in the rocks of the cliff, to “let Me see you” (Sg 2:14)....

“In fact, all the world came to Joseph to obtain rations of grain, for famine had gripped the whole world.” –Genesis 41:57 Mass Readings: July 12 First: Genesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7,17-24; Resp: Psalm 33:2-3,10-11,18-19; Gospel: Matthew 10:1-7 Listen to the Mass Readings A worldwide famine is one of the worst tragedies. It is even worse than the hundreds of millions of people, especially children, starving at this moment in our world. A worse tragedy than a worldwide famine for food is a famine “for hearing the word of the Lord. Then shall they wander from sea to sea and rove from...

“You have contended with divine and human beings.” –Genesis 32:29 Mass Readings: July 11 First: Genesis 32:23-33; Resp: Psalm 17:1-3,6-7,8,15; Gospel: Matthew 9:32-38 Listen to the Mass Readings Jacob contended with a messenger of God in a wrestling match and prevailed (Gn 32:25, 29; Hos 12:5). “As a man he contended with God” (Hos 12:4). A Jacob lurks inside each of us. Jesus calls us to beg the Father for laborers for the harvest and to answer our prayer by becoming one of those laborers ourselves (Mt 9:37-38). Yet how often do we contend with God for long periods of...

“Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head, set it up as a memorial stone, and poured oil on top of it. He called that site Bethel.” –Genesis 28:18-19 Mass Readings: July 10 First: 2 Corinthians 4:6-11,16,17;Resp: Psalm 59:2,10,17-18; Gospel: Matthew 16:24-27 Listen to the Mass Readings Jacob came upon a pagan shrine. There he fell asleep and had a dream in which he met God and received special revelation. “He called that site Bethel,” that is, “the house of God” (Gn 28:19). The Lord wants each of us to have several Bethels in our lives. For...

“See, your King shall come to you; a just Savior is He, meek…” –Zechariah 9:9 Zechariah prophesied that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem “meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt” (Zec 9:9). Jesus continues to invite us: “Learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29, our transl). Jesus promises: “Blessed are the meek; they shall inherit the earth” (Mt 5:5, RSV-CE). The Greek word translated “meek” is sometimes translated “gentle,” “lowly,” and “mild.” Meekness is not weakness. In fact, it is strength. The meek are so strong that they overcome the temptations to...