07 July 2021, General Week 14th Week - Wednesday
FIRST READING
“We are guilty of our brother Joseph. This is why we are in such distress ”
A Reading from the book of Genesis (41, 55-57; 42, 5-7a. 17-24a)
In those days all the land of Egypt suffered from hunger, and the people cried out for bread from Pharaoh. But Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go find Joseph, and do as he tells you. The famine spread throughout the country. So Joseph opened up all the stores and sold wheat to the Egyptians, while the famine deepened in the land. From everywhere people came to Egypt to buy wheat from Joseph, for the famine was getting worse everywhere. So the sons of Israel, that is, Jacob, among many other people, came to buy grain, for there was a famine in the land of Canaan. It was Joseph who organized the sale of the wheat for all the people of the land, for he had full authority in the land. When Joseph's brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the earth. As soon as he saw them, he recognized them, but he behaved like a stranger to them and spoke harshly to them. He kept them at the guardhouse for three days. On the third day he said to them, "Do as I tell you, and you will stay alive, for I fear God." If you are in good faith, may one of you remain a prisoner at the guard post. You others, go with what is necessary of wheat to avoid famine to your clan. Then you will bring your younger brother to me: so your words will be verified, and you will not be put to death. "They accepted, and they said to each other:" Alas! we are guilty towards Joseph our brother: we saw in what distress he was when he begged us, and we did not listen to him. This is why we are now in such distress. »Roubène, then, spoke: "I told you: 'Do not commit this crime against our young brother!' But you didn't listen to me, and now you have to answer with his blood. Since there was an interpreter, they did not realize that Joseph understood them. So Joseph withdrew to weep.
- Word of the Lord.
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