Saving Plan

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070915.cfm) reminds me that God has a saving plan for us.

In companies, especially in big ones, it is very important a business continuity plan. Those responsible for this should make sure that in case something happens to the building or even the city, critical operations of the business will still continue. They should have things in place. There is a lot of work needed for this, and it is not seen in the day to day operations. They are only seen and realized once there is a need to activate the plan, and people would be surprised and thankful that there is a plan in place to make sure business operations would continue.

God has a plan for us, even if we don’t always see or feel it.

In the first reading, we see that Joseph was sold as a slave and suffered a lot. However, this was not in vain, and he knew God’s purpose when the time was right – that was to be able to help people. God prepared him and worked on him way ahead, and his saving plan was realized at the right time. In the gospel, we also see how Jesus sent his apostles to proclaim God’s kingdom and save people.

There are times when we probably do not feel God or do not believe he has plans for us. However, as he did with Joseph, we just have to remain faithful because he will make his plan known. He has great plans for us, and he sends people along the way to help us and make us realize the saving plan he has for us. And when he uses us to reach out to other people, we just need to be like the apostles and have faith in God as we do his work, knowing that he is watching over us and will provide what we need as we work for him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for the reminder. Thank you for your saving plan for me. Lord, sorry for the times I lose faith, especially when I don’t seem to understand what is happening. Help me have firm faith in you, your love, and your saving plan for me. I know you know everything and you have a plan for everything. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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July 9, 2015

Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 386

Reading 1 Gn 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5

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.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21

R. (5a) Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

or:

R. Alleluia.

When the LORD called down a famine on the land

and ruined the crop that sustained them,

He sent a man before them,

Joseph, sold as a slave.

R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

or:

R. Alleluia.

They had weighed him down with fetters,

and he was bound with chains,

Till his prediction came to pass

and the word of the LORD proved him true.

R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

or:

R. Alleluia.

The king sent and released him,

the ruler of the peoples set him free.

He made him lord of his house

and ruler of all his possessions.

R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia Mk 1:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Kingdom of God is at hand:

repent and believe in the Gospel.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 10:7-15

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.”