OXYGEN

08 Jul
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Genesis 41:55-57;42:5-7.17-24

When the country of Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread. But Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, ‘Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.’ – There was famine all over the world. – Then Joseph opened all the granaries and sold grain to the Egyptians. The famine grew worse in the land of Egypt. People came to Egypt from all over the world to buy grain from Joseph, for the famine had grown severe throughout the world.

Israel’s sons with others making the same journey went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan. It was Joseph, as the man in authority over the country, who sold the grain to all comers. So Joseph’s brothers went and bowed down before him, their faces touching the ground. When Joseph saw his brothers he recognised them. then he kept them all in custody for three days.

On the third day Joseph said to them, ‘Do this and you shall keep your lives, for I am a man who fears God. If you are honest men let one of your brothers be kept in the place of your detention; as for you, go and take grain to relieve the famine of your families. You shall bring me your youngest brother; this way your words will be proved true, and you will not have to die!’ this they did. They said to one another, ‘Truly we are being called to account for our brother. We saw his misery of soul when he begged our mercy, but we did not listen to him and now this misery has come home to us.’ Reuben answered them, ‘Did I not tell you not to wrong the boy? But you did not listen, and now we are brought to account for his blood.’ They did not know that Joseph understood, because there was an interpreter between them. He left them and wept.
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Matthew 10:1-7

Jesus summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his bother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the one who was to betray him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows:

‘Do not turn your steps to pagan territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’
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… [G]o rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

I read a column in the papers in which the author wrote about his parents. He looked into their room one night as they were sleeping. He was overwhelmed at how much they had changed. Hands that once carried him were wrinkled; heads of hair were greying and other signs of aging. He remarked on just how much they had given up for him. The article made me reflect on the sacrifices my own parents made in raising me. It reminded me that the time we had left together was limited and that I must use this time to love them as they loved me.

It seems strange as to why Christ instructed the disciples to avoid pagan regions and only go to their own people. In truth, it was the Israelites themselves who were in the greater need – they were the chosen of God and yet they were getting lost. They needed to be redeemed before the rest of the world could. As Christ also said, greater is the joy of finding a lost sheep. This is the joy that drove Joseph to tears when he met his brothers after so many years.

Keeping our hearts open to others is not always an easy thing to do. Ironically, it can be even harder with members of our own family and our closest friends. The smallest things can irritate, distance and even cauterize relationships. But these are the ones which really matter. They are people who shaped and defined us. Could they really be consigned to the crowd we casually meet everyday? Will we one day be able to weep in joy as Joseph did or will we weep in regret? My sisters and brothers, as they say, charity begins at home. Let us not forget that even those nearest to us are in need of the love of God which we bring.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Aloysius Ting)
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Prayer: We pray that we will not become complacent in our relationships with our own family members and that we will strive to foster excellent bonds with them.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for our parents who define what it means by unconditional and selfless love and giving.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu, 09 Jul – Genesis 44:18-21.23-29;45:1-5; Matthew 10:7-15
Fri, 10 Jul – Genesis 46:1-7.28-30; Matthew 10:16-23
Sat, 11 Jul – Genesis 49:29-33;50:15-26; Matthew 10:24-38; Memorial for St. Benedict, Abbot
Sun, 12 Jul – Amos 7:12-15; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 7-13; Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time; Bible Sunday