ENVY vs INSPIRATION

Go to Joseph and do whatever he told them. Genesis 41:55

Envy led the brothers of Joseph to sell him as a

slave. It was also envy that led to Jesus crucifixion. Today,
envy leads to the killing of ones reputation and good
name. When people are envious, they kill their brother and
sister with their tongues or with their words through
malicious gossip.
We need to guard our hearts for envy can creep to
us subtly. We can be tempted to envy our brother or sister
when they are promoted, when they do better than us in
their families and careers, when they receive the things
we want for ourselves.
Instead of feeling envious, we should be inspired.
These people deserve their reward because of their hard
work, faithfulness and obedience. They are blessed
because they follow Gods will for their lives. The Holy
Spirit teaches us to be happy for other people when they
are blessed. Their success are good examples for us to
follow. When we do our best in what God has called us to
do and when we follow His ways, He also has His own
reward in store for us. Marjorie Duterte
(marjorie.travels@gmail.com)

Reflection:I too, invite myself and everyone to see if, in

my heart, there is any jealousy, any envy, which always leads to
death and doesnt make me happy; because this sickness always
leads us to regard the good others possess as if it were against
us. And this is an ugly sin. It is the beginning of many, many
crimes. (Pope Francis)

Lord, protect us from envy. Keep our hearts close to You. We

trust in Your good plans for us.

St. John Jones, priest and martyr, pray for us.

Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top

COMPANION

1ST READING

Josephs brothers realized they were wrong to sell Joseph off as

a slave many years ago. Joseph saw their inner repentance and
wept. He had them arrested and while in jail, Josephs brothers
repented of the evil they have done. Like Joseph, let us pray that
we will be generous to forgive those who sin against us.

Genesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7, 17-24

When hunger came to be felt throughout the land of

55

Egypt and the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, Pharaoh

directed all the Egyptians to go to Joseph and do
whatever he told them. When the famine had spread
56

throughout the land, Joseph opened all the cities that had
grain and rationed it to the Egyptians, since the famine
had gripped the land of Egypt. In fact, all the world came
57

to Joseph to obtain rations of grain, for famine had gripped

the whole world. 42: The sons of Israel were among those
5

who came to procure rations. It was Joseph, as governor

6

of the country, who dispensed the rations to all the people.

When Josephs brothers came and knelt down before him
with their faces to the ground, he recognized them as
7

soon as he saw them. But Joseph concealed his own

identity from them and spoke sternly to them. With that,
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he locked them up in the guardhouse for three days. On 18

the third day Joseph said to his brothers: Do this, and you
shall live; for I am a God-fearing man. If you have been
19

honest, only one of your brothers need be confined in this

prison, while the rest of you may go and take home
provisions for your starving families. But you must come
20

back to me with your youngest brother. Your words will

thus be verified, and you will not die. To this they
agreed. To one another, however, they said: Alas, we
21

are being punished because of our brother. We saw the

anguish of his heart when he pleaded with us, yet we paid
no heed; that is why this anguish has now come upon
us. Reuben broke in, Didnt I tell you not to do wrong to
22

the boy? But you would not listen! Now comes the
reckoning for his blood. The brothers did not know, of
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course, that Joseph understood what they said, since he

spoke with them through an interpreter. But turning away
24
from them, he wept.

PSALM

Psalm 33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19

R: Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

2Give thanks to the Lord on the harp; with the ten-stringed

lyre chant his praises. Sing to him a new song; pluck the
3

strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness. (R) The Lord

10

brings to nought the plans of nations; he foils the designs

of peoples. But the plan of the Lord stands forever; the
11

design of his heart, through all generations. (R) But see, 18

the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon
those who hope for his kindness, to deliver them from
19

death and preserve them in spite of famine. (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus knew He needed to turn over the ministry of the Kingdom

to His Twelve Apostles. So He gave them authority to heal and
cast out evil spirits. Jesus began a tradition where He authorizes
us to proclaim the Gospel in His name.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe in the

Gospel.
Matthew 10:1-7

1Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them

authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure
every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve
2

Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his

brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his
brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and
3

Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus,

and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot
4

who betrayed Jesus. Jesus sent out these Twelve after

5

instructing them thus, Do not go into pagan territory or

enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the
6

house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: The

7

Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

think: Imagine that you are one of the Apostles being

commissioned by Jesus. How would you feel?

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Read the Bible in one year 2 Chronicles 28-30

T O D A YS BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord,

for: ______________________________________________________

Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top

SABBATH

PRACTICUM

A few verses previous to our Gospel story (Matthew 9:12),

Jesus commented to the Pharisees: It is not the healthy
who need a physician, but they who are sick. From there,
He went on teaching about fasting, about the newness
and the sense of joy that He brings as Messiah. In the
midst of all these, a situation develops. Jesus is
approached by the village official who kneels before Him
to beg Him to come visit his daughter who had just died.
The evangelist tells us how Jesus left all, arose and
followed the official into his house. Thus, His words have
turned into a fruitful act.
 Maxims, wisdom sayings and hugot lines are very
good. They synthesize for our memory and learnings
some essential virtues and values whether human,
spiritual or religious. They inspire us. One of my favorites
in this regard, is the seven-volume Mga Tilamsik ng Diwa
of the late Social Democrat Senator Soc Rodrigo (1914-
1998), who is also a very devoted Catholic layman,
lawyer and politician. His thoughts are practical, poetic, simple
yet profound, very Catholic and very Filipino.
The challenge of life, though, is our readiness to live
out and apply these maxims and wisdom sayings. Like
Jesus, we have to be able to recognize the moments and
events that would be opportunities for action. This means
an ever-open and listening attitude to events and persons
around us. Never to be too absorbed into our own
schedules and preoccupations, but always having that
disposition of detachment and tentativeness. Being always
a believer in life as a mystery, and in the action of grace
and Spirit. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

---------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ----------

Can you recall situations and events that challenge you to act on
your favorite principles and sayings? How did you respond to
these moments?

It is so easy to speak, Lord. But to live out what we speak is

a different matter. Help me to do so. Amen.