Wednesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a
When hunger came to be felt throughout the land of 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 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 to Joseph to obtain rations of grain, for famine had gripped the whole world. The sons of Israel were among those who came to procure rations. It was Joseph, as governor of the country, who dispensed the rations to all the people. When Joseph’s brothers came and knelt down before him with their faces to the ground, he recognized them as soon as he saw them. But Joseph concealed his own identity from them and spoke sternly to them. With that, he locked them up in the guardhouse for three days. On 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 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 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 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, “Did I not tell you not to do wrong to the boy? But you would not listen! Now comes the reckoning for his blood.” The brothers did not know, of course, that Joseph understood what they said, since he spoke with them through an interpreter. But turning away from them, he wept.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19 (R.22)
R. Lord, let Your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in You.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant His praises.
Sing to Him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness. R.
The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
He foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of His heart, through all generations. R.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear Him,
upon those who hope for His kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine. R.
Gospel – Mt 10:1-7
Jesus 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 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 Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'”
Featured Saints
Sts. Nabor and Felix, martyrs (†304). Soldiers put to death for their Faith during the persecution of Emperor Maximian. According to tradition, they were buried in Milabn.
St. Giovanni Gualbert, abbot (†1073). As a young Florentine he pardoned his brother’s murderer for the love of Christ. He embraced the religious life as a Benedictine and went on to found the Vallumbrosan Order, near Fiesole, Italy.
St. Viventiolus, bishop (†circa 523). Encouraged the clergy and laity of the Diocese of Lyon, France, to participate in the Council of Pau, to provide the faithful with a better understanding of Pontifical decisions.
St. Clement Ignatius Delgado Cebrián, bishop and martyr (†1838). After preaching the Gospel for fifty years in Vietnam he was imprisoned and died, having endured tremendous suffering.
St. John Jones, priest and martyr (†1598). Welsh Franciscan priest who was executed in London during the reign of Elizabeth I, for exercising his priestly ministry in England.
St. Peter Khanh, priest and martyr (†1842). Recognized as a Catholic priest in a customs office, he was imprisoned, tortured and decapitated in Nghê An, Vietnam.
St. Leo, abbot (†1079). Abbot of the famous Monastery of La Cava which developed rapidly through his virtue and example. He was especially dedicated to caring for the poor.
Blessed David Gunston, martyr (†1541). Knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, executed by order of Henry VIII of England for refusing to recognize the religious supremacy of the king.
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