Reflection for Wednesday, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Word

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

Mathew 10 : 7

As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’


Today's Reflection

The person of Joseph in today’s first reading illustrates the truth of the line from one of the Psalms, ‘the stone which the builders has rejected has become the corner stone’.

Joseph had been rejected by his brothers, thrown into a pit and left for dead.

However, he was eventually rescued by travellers and brought to Egypt.

There his natural gifts ensured that he rose up in the Egyptian civil service.

Eventually, he had the responsibility for distributing food to the hungry in time of famine.

Egypt’s reserves of food meant that it remained a source of food for other peoples who were beset by famine.

So, it happened, that when Jacob’s brothers came from the land of Israel to look for food, it was Joseph who had the power and the ability to meet their need.

The rejected stone had become the keystone.

What we reject can sometimes turn out to be of crucial importance for us.

Our initial response to say ‘no’ to something or someone is not always the best response.

Yet, our saying ‘no’ can itself serves God’s purpose, just as the brothers rejection of Joseph ended up serving God’s purpose for his people.

Jesus is the supreme example of the stone rejected becoming the corner stone.

The rejection of God’s Son went on to serve God’s purpose for humanity.

Among those who rejected Jesus was one of the twelve he chose in today’s gospel reading.

Yet, even Judas’ betrayal of Jesus came to serve God’s greater purpose of revealing God’s unconditional love for all humankind.

The story of Joseph and Jesus reminds us that in the words of Paul’s letter to the Romans, ‘all things work together for good for those who love God’.

God is always at work to bring some good even out of our failures.


Resolution

Let's resolve to be different when we are called to carry out the mandate entrusted to each one of us in spite of being rejected knowing that we are not alone in the race, Jesus is always with us. Let's dare to be different.

Good Morning

God bless.

Let's continue to pray for the speedy recovery of Pope Francis.