The
first reading today continues the familiar story of Joseph and his
brothers, who now appear before him, an administrator of the Pharaoh himself,
to beg for food for themselves and their families (even though they are not
Egyptians) – due to the drought that has forced so many into destitution.
Joseph today reveals himself to his brothers – and does not hold their crime of selling him to the Egyptians many years
earlier against them, but reconciles with them – thus prefiguring Christ
himself who would be betrayed and sold by his own friends, but who would become
reconciliation for all people everywhere, and distribute the great bread of his
very self to them and for them, and for all who believe in him, by means of the
Eucharist, one day to come!
In
the gospel passage, Jesus continues the idea from yesterday,
telling the Apostles to go and make the proclamation that THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
IS AT HAND. Something is radically different now! TRUTH is here! A reliable GUIDE-PATH for life is here! UNENDING LIFE is now available and is offered for
the taking! He tells these disciples not to worry about the details of their
missionary journeys, for the laborer
deserves his keep. They were to offer PEACE as a barometer of the spiritual
lives of the recipients of their message. If the household received the peace
offered and wished it back to the Apostle, then there was fruitful soil on
which to build a spiritual life; if the peace was returned – and probably
rather abruptly and rudely, then the soil was bad, and nothing good could be
expected in that place!
May our souls be fruitful
ground today, may we gladly accept the peace of Christ that is offered to us;
and may we offer this peace and proclaim the reality of the Kingdom of God to
others this day in some way, shape or form: this we are called to do by our own
baptisms!
The
Kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe in the Gospel!
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